Web-A-Thon info

Aside from training, work and time to relax, there are other things on the agenda to keep me busy.  Recently I received an email from Bob Calvert – host of Talking with Heroes (www.talkingwithheroes.com) – a talk show program dedicated to our soldiers serving over seas.  Bob’s been over to Iraq, Kuwait & Afghanistan a number of times to bring back progress stories that the soldiers themselves have told.  Check out his website and the YouTube site that is tagged in there too to hear about it.  He sent me a message inviting me to be part of a 24-hour Web-A-Thon that will be hosted by the Howard Keating Show online at http://www.keatingnetwork.com/.  They’re hosting this program to help out war vets and their families get better established when they return to war time service.  Similar to what the project my team is aligned with does, Project New Hope.  The details are as follows:

We are hosting a 24-Hour Veteran Web-a-thon on April 6 – 7^th , 2011.  This program will be heavily promoted by Fleishman Hillard and we anticipate over 1MM viewers during the 24-hour period. 
VETERAN 24-HOUR WEB-A-THON
The web-a-thon is designed to help our veterans get jobs, start businesses or expand their existing businesses through opportunities and resources offered on the program.  The purpose of the event is to increase awareness throughout the media community of the significant needs and challenges our veterans face (90 percent divorce rate, 107,000 living on our streets, loss of homes and jobs, etc.)  These heroes are so completely demoralized upon their return from service, and we need them to know that  the corporations of the U.S. are behind them.       
Our goal is to honor our veterans by helping at least 2,000 get jobs, contracts, start a business, or create joint ventures. 
When:  April 6^th, 5:00 PM ET – April 7^th at 5:00 PM ET
We will be offering:
®     Businesses looking to partner with businesses
®     franchises at a discounted price
®     Jobs from major businesses
®     Loans to either start a business or to help increase sales of an existing business
®     Distributorship opportunities
®     Product and service companies that want to go global
Media platform
®     The Howard Keating Show  (keatingnetwork.com)
They only have a certain number of participants for this Web-A-Thon so I am very honored to be a part of it.  Philco’s Freedom Team & Project New Hope will both be featured, as I will explain the start of my team along with the alignment with Project New Hope. 

This Monday (March 28^th) I’ll be part of a “Veteran Days Week” hosted by Howard Keating and his staff on their network.  The confirmation email yesterday stated that Philco’s Freedom Team will be featured with an interview with Kurt Philion at approximately 5:45pm CT on http://www.keatingnetwork.com/ I’m looking forward to this opportunity to promote Philco’s Freedom Team, Project New Hope and recognize the soldiers, past & present and of course those who have motivated me to keep running – the fallen soldiers.  They deserve more respect and honor than they get and we’ll make sure to give them just that with this program. 
The email had mentioned that with the help of a PR firm, this program will collect a listenership in the millions.  If you get the chance, be one of those millions who will be tuning in!  Once I know the exact time for the Web-A-Thon interview that I’ll be featured in, I will post for you information.  Tune in this Monday, March 28^th at 5:45pm CT by logging onto http://www.keatingnetwork.com/

Lots of activity

It’s not every day that I mix running with a couple forms of cross training.  I decided tonight would be a good night for that.  The longest night of training so far leading up to the first runs of 2011, I was in the gym from just after five o’clock until almost seven thirty.  There was a part in there when it was ten minutes of rest, but otherwise it was anything from running to walking, boxing four rounds of two minutes with one minute rest intervals in between with the champ, Chris, and a ten minute kettle bell ladder work out that lasted just over ten minutes.  It got fairly tiring, as that was done after a four mile mid-tempo run, then some stretching and the boxing followed right after that.  The ten minute rest took place in between the boxing and kettle bell ladder work out.  It was much needed.  My body, especially my feet, didn’t like me much tonight.  Especially Mr. Left foot…when you’re focused on your work in the gym, you sometimes fail to notice pain you’re going to feel later on, like when you shower.  My left foot, right by the big toe somehow got cut open.  There was even tape on the part where it got cut!  I have no clue how it happened, but when I took my Vibrams off, there was a huge red blotch right by the big toe where my athletic tape was wrapped.  It was a decent gash that is now covered with a big band aid.  That should do the trick. 
Like I mentioned, when you’re focused on your work outs, you don’t really notice that pain.  I could feel it when I was walking out of the gym, but didn’t think much of it.  The short ride home followed by a nice long shower provides time to think about the work outs you just accomplished along with what will be coming up later.  I follow a program I put together, but it’s still something I like to think about for tomorrow’s session. 
To me, all the work that was done tonight doesn’t seem like much.  Yes I was in there for a decent amount of time and the work that was done isn’t easy, but it’s all part of the preparation to get you ready for the runs you’re going to participate in.  A kettle bell ladder consists of two kettle bell work outs, rotating back and forth with short breaks between each rep.  Starting out with forty swings (two handed), set it down, do six squats.  Then you go down the “ladder” for swings and up the “ladder” with squats.  So the next set will consist of thirty swings and seven squats.  Twenty swings and eight squats.  Fifteen swings and nine squats then finishing off ten and ten.  All to be accomplished within a ten minute period.  Well, at least that’s the goal.  I failed to make that goal tonight, it took me just over eleven minutes, but I still did each step.  I did that same ladder after a ten mile run on Monday night and actually fell over after the kettle bell work out to the point I could barely get my legs to keep me up.   I’m not talking about fainting or passing out…after I dropped that bell, I fell right on my butt and could definitely feel the burn!  The ten mile run followed by the kettle bell ladder drill was done at a decent rate.  Eighty-nine minutes to get the ten miles done, which is good for me…and only fifteen seconds over ten minute to get the kettle bell work out done.  I was also going to do some boxing Monday night too, but my boxing buddy wasn’t in working that night.  Probably a good thing.  That night my legs didn’t like me, much like my feet hated me tonight. 
Also mixed in this week, last night, the Sprint 8 workout.  I absolutely love this work out.  With ninety second rest intervals, you run sprints for thirty seconds, starting out at about 75% of your max, then 80%, 85% and so on until you get up to 100% - all out, arms pumping, legs about to fall off, full speed ahead!  This is good to do on a treadmill because you’re forced to sprint as hard as you can the entire thirty seconds.  If you’re outside, you might lack some speed but it’s still great to do both inside and outside.  I heard about that workout from my friend Dan Clark.  He’s kind of the man.  He’s also got a great book called Gladitor: A True Story of Roids, Rage & Redemption.  If you haven’t read it yet, read it, you’ll love it!  There you go, my plug about mental preparation, reading!
Right now I’m reading a book called Wooden on Leadership.  I think it’s one of the longer books by the late John Wooden, former UCLA Bruins men’s basketball coach (should have been in Minnesota!!).   Read his books, you’ll find out what I’m talking about.
Work hard and work smart.  Utilize your time in the gym if you’re going to the gym and outdoors if you’re out snow shoeing after yet another “spring time” winter storm we just got!! 
Good luck with your training and remember to always stay positive when it comes to your training even if you find out that your foot is bleeding profusely.  

We've added another run to our schedule!  Check it out at www.philcosfreedomteam.net

Is this you?

I received this link from a friend of mine who is also a runner.  He ran with my sister and I during the Fargo Half Marathon last year. 
Enjoy!

Two more months!

Sitting exactly two months in front of the first half marathon of the year – Fargo Half Marathon on May 21^st – brings forth eight strong weeks of training for the event.  Mixed into this will be a couple other 5K/10K events to get into race mode. 
I don’t know why sickness keeps tagging along with me, but it’s finally getting beat with the help of extra time to sleep and less time traveling for work.  That will make the biggest difference in these next two months. 
This is also the time many start to seriously think about if they’re going to run in the spring and which race they’ll be doing.  With the way so many of these races are getting more popular, you might want to hurry up and make your commitment now.  Fargo has a cap for each race, as do several other races around the area such as the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, which your chances of getting into the half marathon there don’t exist anymore.  The lottery has been drawn and the numbers chosen as to who will be participating in that one. 
The thing I tell people when it comes to deciding whether or not they’re going to take the plunge and actually go for it…if you have had any thought of trying an event, even if it’s one that might seem “too far” for you, do it.  Circumstances may come up in the future that won’t allow you to take part when you really know you wanted to try it.  So go for it.  There will be thousands of people there cheering you on, thousands of other runners encouraging you to go farther and lots of great entertainment, food and fun to be had by all throughout the weekend! 
Eight weeks is plenty of time to prepare yourself for a half marathon.  If it’s your first full and you’re thinking Fargo … that could be a different story.  But it definitely is possible.  Anything is that you set your mind to and do.  Get on track, stay on track and keep your focus on what you’re intending to accomplish.  Challenge a friend, form a team of runners to go as a group…just do whatever it takes to get you out there and experience what is the Fargo Marathon event. 

I’m starting to see more and more people out running.  You see it in the fitness center and now with the weather finally starting to warm up and melt some of the snow away, the outdoors running style is starting to become more popular here in northwestern Minnesota!   My outdoors running will start up soon, I think.  The only place I train usually outdoors is at the high school track in Mahnomen.  Not only do you get the fresh air, the wind in your face and the pounding of a hard surface for your feet to be more physically prepared; you also drive yourself absolutely crazy running around an oval shaped track for an hour or more.  A half marathon is just over 52 laps around a track.  Run one lap and think to yourself, wow, only 51 more and I’ve done a half marathon.  I did it once for training last summer, in the rain.  Not for fun, not even part of my training route or program…just to see how fast I could do it in.   I ran it the fastest I’ve ever gone 13.1 miles before (without a flag).  One hour and fifty-eight minutes.   I actually didn’t  mind the rain, it was to the point you wanted to get it done quicker so you could go inside and dry up and you really don’t think much about how painful it’s going to be from forcing a longer stride and faster pace.  I didn’t care, I was going for it.  Worked out pretty darn good!
Whether you exercise inside or outside, the two keys words are: you exercise!   When you’re done, you feel great.  You’re more energized because the blood is flowing through your entire body, especially the brain, making it easier to think clearer and become more positive for the rest of the day.  I hate mornings until I actually get going, such as starting out with a work out.  Kick starts your day the right way. 
We’ll see you at the finish line May 21^st in Fargo, ND!!

The madness is spreading

Not everyone can say that they’ve run in a marathon event.  Some will tell you the same thing I used to claim, that I would never run in a half or full marathon as long as I live.  Things change and so do people.  Your mindset will change as you get older…or should I say, wiser! 
With the definition of wise you could probably add the term crazy.  It seems to go hand in hand with anything you do.  Wise ideas can turn into something big or it can stay something small which in both cases are fine.  When I started running in memory of my friend Corey, I never imagined it to be much of anything for other people.  I wanted to do it to honor him in a way that took some sacrifice, preparation and hard work to achieve what I wanted.  I could have done many other things other than running but when it came down to it, running seems to be the one thing you can do physically by yourself, without having to have others there with you at all times.  Yes, it’s nice to join forces with other people and have someone there to push you to the next level but in essence, it’s not mandatory. 
The people who keep me going and doing what I do aren’t around me physically, but I know they’re looking down on me every time I train and at every event.  Thousands of soldiers who have lost their lives, many of which don’t get any recognition for their duty of serving and protecting the country they love.  A country where crack head, drug addict will get hours of media attention yet hasn’t done anything for his country that’s good.  Yes, he may have made some people laugh and entertained millions, but what would happen if you suited him up into a military uniform (and I’m not talking about some movie or TV role where he’s “acting” as a soldier) and sent him over seas.  Which media outlet that has nothing better to do than follow this idiot around like a lost puppy looking for attention would follow him over seas and keep up to date with his daily activity?  I’m sure most of them would jump right on that!...Or not. 

All I want to do is get these men and women who actually serve and do something for their country the recognition they deserve, which is a lot more!  I’m finding out through other runners and organizations that it is really is happening, you just don’t hear about it in the news.   
I received a letter from another runner earlier this year stating that she was one of my dad’s students from back in the day.  Here is the letter I got:
"Hi Kurt,
Not sure if you recognize my name or not, but your dad was my math teacher in Gonvick, 25 years ago or so. We exchange Christmas cards every year and this year the letter talked about how you have run and still run with a flag. I also had googled "running with a flag" and an interview you had done with a man who had run a half marathon (I think it was) was one of the first links. I thought what a small world that my old math teacher's son would appear after googling about the flag.
Anyway, before hearing about anyone running with a flag, I had gotten the feeling that I needed to do this while on a run last summer when I ran up a hill and saw a flag waving in the distance on a beautiful summer day. I'd like to run in honor of those who have fought and those who are currently fighting for our freedom and for our great country. I'm signed up to run Grandma's marathon in June and will start training here in a few weeks. Any advice on how to prepare for such an undertaking would be much appreciated!
Thanks :) – Jean B.”
And people say I’m crazy!  I’m not the only one that thinks that way as you can see!  I received that message in mid-January.  Never did I think that someone else would want to do this, but I have seen others at some runs carrying the Old Glory.  The year I did the full marathon in Fargo (2008) I ran into a guy who had carried an American flag the same size as mine, but did the 5K.  Bigger guy, about 6’3” maybe 225.  Army guy in fact.  He asked me if I really ran the entire distance with the flag, the full 26.2 miles.  I mentioned that I ran, walked, hobbled and nearly crawled for part of it my legs hurt so bad.  My entire body hurt extremely bad after that run for a few days.  The following day it felt like someone had taken a hammer to my entire body and pounded on me for a few hours.  With better preparation and better knowledge of how to make it through a race I’ve been able to figure out ways that work good to run while limiting the pumping of one arm to carry the colors that represent the country my friend and thousands of others lost their life for.  Now I'll be teaming up in 2011 with Jean during the Grandma's Marathon event in June to show respect and honor to our fallen in two events: the half AND the full marathon!  I'm definitely looking forward to this as well!
In the past, it wasn’t a big thing for me when it comes to time.  I sent a text message to the girl who inspired me to run, who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.  My sister Nikki has been a huge part of my success in getting going and becoming a “runner”.  I still don’t look at myself as a runner, knowing there’s so many that are more professional when it comes to the marathon routes.  But this year, I have set a goal.  I want to break two hours for a half marathon.  I’ve got four chance to do it.  Every year I schedule four (4) half marathons (13.1 miles) to honor Corey.  His number in hockey was 4…my number in basketball was 13.    It just makes sense.  I will do this while carrying a 3’x5’ American flag.  I know what it takes, now I just have to do it. 
What ever your goal is, tell someone.  Explain to them that you will do it.  Don’t just say it, work towards that goal and accomplish it.  Don’t be satisfied with, “Well, I tried.”  Get it done!  Just like my sister always told me when it comes to running and trying for something more: “I know you can do it, all you have to do is try!”  I tried and did it…which turned that saying into: “I knew you could do it!  And now you know it, too!”

It's more than just running

It seems like it's always non stop with everything that's going on. From work, to
training to play and relax time. March Madness is officially here, maybe that's why
it feels so hectic right now. But it's really not.
This past weekend I was invited to the Detroit Lakes sector Patriot Guard
meet & greet held at the Legion club there. Much like last year, it was another
nice turnout with members from all over the state, including a PG board member
from Minneapolis. My friend Karla who is a ride captain for this area's PGR
(Patriot Guard Riders) invited me down to the event and a couple days prior to
the meet and greet asked if I would speak about my running. I gladly accepted
of course. Any promotion of my friend Corey and all of the fallen will be accepted
as long as it works with my schedule.
I'm not sure how long the actual talk was, it always seems like I'm up there for a lot
longer than it really is. I'd think it was maybe ten minutes. I brought my uniform I
wore the previous year for running so I could show those in attendance what
thousands of spectators and other runners see at all of the events we're part of.
Looking out in the crowd of people, some eating, others finished and just listening,
I could see that all were very attentive as to what I was saying.
When it comes to speaking to a group, I feel more comfortable talking to 100 or
more, honestly. That way, you can pick out the ones who are truly engaged into
the talk and really want to hear what you're saying. I've done one talk where
there was maybe ten people and you see one guy yawning, another not ever
looking at you. You start to wonder why you're even there. But I knew these
individuals would be into it. They honor and respect our fallen, the troops currently
serving and of course the families of those who have.
Following the talk, I had the chance to meet and greet some of these members.
Some I already knew and others I met for the first time. Anywhere from Detroit
Lakes to Brainerd, Hibbing and Minneapolis. One had shaken my hand and
told me "You almost made me cry man, and that takes a lot for this guy..."
You know you've made an impact just by hearing one person say that.
As for training, it's still going great. Learning some new things on the way too with
the help of a couple of trainers. Any advice is good advice, especially when you're
learning and using it to your advantage.
In the next blog, I will be mentioning a letter I recently received from another runner
in regards to teaming up to honor our fallen soldiers. It will fit in great with this month,
as we sprint into March Madness!! People think I'm crazy, so we might as well
spread this craziness/madness on to other people, right?? This will be at a future
run, after the Fargo Marathon, that I was recently selected to be part of.
Adding to that, prior to the Fargo Marathon events in mid-May, we'll be coming to
the west side of the city...to West Fargo to take part in a 5K event on April 30th
put on by the WFHS Student Council where funds will go to benefit Hope, Inc. &
the Zach Gabbard family of Perham, MN. Zach was the basketball player that
collapsed during a basketball game held in Glyndon, MN at D-G-F high school.
He's currently on a long road to recovery at the hospital at the UofM in Minneapolis.
Right after that, we'll be heading right to Eagan, MN for a Tribute to the Troops 5K
event to honor our fallen soldiers on Sunday May 1st.
It's going to be a fun 2011 and we hope you're able to be part of it in some way!

For full details on our run schedule, log on to www.philcosfreedomteam.net