The Summer “to do list....”

Pop’s Summer Kiddo To Do List.

At some point growing up, our parents decided that Casey, Tim and I could stay home by ourselves.  Three boys in small town Iowa left home alone to enjoy there summer.  This memory is not about the crazy adventures we experienced, those will come later, rather this is about the start of each of those days.

We would wake up, most of the time before Dad and Mom would leave the house.  If we were lucky we would catch Dad as he was finishing up that days To Do List.

My Dad has always been a list guy.  A trait that I picked up on as well.  He has them for work, vacation etc. but the list that I am talking about is the one he would create everyday during the summer for us boys to accomplish.  A Kiddo To Do List.

The list always started with a letter, and ended with the list.  Dishes, Clean Up our Rooms, Dust, bathrooms, the Yard, etc. etc.  and they almost always said…Get done before WE(Mom and Dad) get home.

Remember those adventures I talked about above…well those adventures would take all day.  All day long.  They had to, because how else could you explain that the list always got finished right as Mom or Dad was pulling into the driveway.  I can remember on some occasions sitting in the living room and seeing their vehicles come down the hill, yelling to my brothers and racing to get the dishes done in 15 seconds…..LOL, OMG….so funny to think about now.

Lists led to compromise, to trades of chores, to arguments, to who did what, who did it when, who did the most(Casey was the king of the list)…..

Looking back…oh, do be a fly on the wall to hear those three young boys debating the list….We probably spent more time figuring the list out, then we ever did actually doing the list itself….but damn were those summers fun....

The Cookie Club....

As I repost these stories, the memories and the smiles that accompany them come rushing back.

Mr. Quillin was an amazing man.

You see, my classmate Paul and I always make it a point when we can, when I am in town visiting, to get together for a Donut, some soda and to catch up.  We have now drafted Jeremy into those get together was well.

The conversations always lead to the GREAT Mercy Hospital Team (referenced in a previous memory).  I am not sure that I have ever talked more about a team in my life.  My apologies to Paul, the HS championship team from a few weeks ago is now right up there.

One thing leads to another and we would always end up talking about our Dads.  Both were Coaches and have had such a lasting impact on our lives.

Besides the Mercy Hospital Team Memory, Mr. Quillin also contributed to the Memory collection because of his job at Randalls in Cedar Rapids.  Randalls was located on Edgewood Road.  Just down the road from Happy Joes, and not to far from the previously mentioned Donutland.  It had been Barlows(spelling??) before Randalls.  I remember the Barlows sign being a GREEN Lit up cursive.

The Kasparek Family did their grocery shopping there for some time.  When we did, there was Mr. Quillin, walking the aisles, busting his hump, but ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS had a smile on his face and a greeting for those around….but I also remember him asking us kids if we had got our Cookie yet.  You see, there was a Cookie Club.  Seriously, does anyone else remember this?  You went to the Grocery Store, and you got a Cookie.  I cannot remember if there was a punch card of some sort, or if there was money involved, but I do know that you got a COOKIE!!!!!!  There goes that damn sweet tooth again.

Thank you Paul for always sharing stories of your Dad with me, I know he is greatly missed.

I look forward to our next donut where we will once again talk about the Mercy Team, our green jerseys, how know one could beat us, and of course talking about our fathers. 

I miss my Grandpa Kasparek.....

 To My Critics....

This sign has always been in Grandma and Grandpa K's house.  I am not sure for how long, but for as long as I can remember.  I have not doubt that It is something that all of us Kaspareks would love hanging in our homes one day.

A few visits ago, when visiting Grandma Rose I took a picture of it.

From time to time I will pull it up on my phone or Ipad just to remind me of Grandpa K but more importantly just to remind myself never to take my self to seriously, and to LOL....

I cannot tell you how much I love this picture.  Seriously words cannot do it justice.  I have no idea how many family, friends, acquaintances have put eyes on it, but I can only imagine that it has produced countless smiles and laughs through the years.  

If you are offended by it, so be it....but if you read this, and saw the pic and laughed, then my mission was accomplished...

Could this happen today????

SOCCER and CHOIR in a matter of hours. 

It seems more and more in today’s world that kids are having to specialize.  When  I was in HS the trend seemed to be beginning.  You were starting to see kids play only one sport, or only do Music, or only do Drama etc.  I consider myself very, very lucky that this was never the case with me.  I have a few memories on this matter, but we will start with this one.

My senior year, I participated in Show and Concert Choir.  In the Spring I also played soccer.  Soccer was my sport.  Loved it.  Well as it so happened a Concert Choir Performance and BIG Soccer Game ended up being on the same day.  We were playing in the Muscatine Invitational in the middle/late afternoon, and then we had a Concert Choir Performance early that evening in Cedar Rapids.  

My Dad/Coach and Mr. Berry made a deal that I could do both.  Not sure if these deals even exist outside my experience.  I hope they do.  

According to the deal, I could only play one half of soccer, then I would have to get in my Ford Escort, which I had followed the bus in, and drive back to Cedar Rapids, just in time for the concert.  

Back in 1993 this was possible, I am not sure it would be allowed now…..Is it?? A student by himself, following the bus in his personal vehicle.

I remember correctly the concert started at 7.  The game got to halftime sometime after 5.  

Here is the kicker though.  We were tied at the half.  Tied.  This was a HUGE deal.  Why?  I may not have mentioned it in the memories yet, but I NEVER won a HS Soccer Game as a player.  Never.  Ask my HS Teams I coached.  They know.  We were tied, and I had saved a penalty kick in the first half to keep it tied.  

I may or may not have spent the first minutes of Halftime begging my Pops to let me play this one out, but he had a deal with Mr. Berry, and he was going to make sure he held to it, and that I sang.

I finally hustled to my car, and plugged in the fuzzbuster(true story)  This was not mine, but it was given to me by someone not of HS Age, for the express reason to get me to the concert on time, and I did. Cough, Cough, Mr. Berry. 

I arrived in less than an hour with a little breathing room to spare, warmed up with the choir and we performed a great set.

We may not have won the soccer game, or won the performance, but overall I WON, because I had a Great Coach and a Great Choir Director who let ME do it ALL….

What’s in a #?

What’s in a #?

Everything when  it motivates the living he#$ out of you.....Back at the beginning of January, when a not so nice thing was told to me, and it kicked me in the A$$ to get my SH#$ together, I did not step on a scale.

I was SCARED!!!

No seriously, I did not want to see what that # was.....but I know it was higher than I ever wanted it to be but probably a little lower than I imagined....but today I can safely and confidently say that the # is more than 20 lost....

and for the first time in YEARS, it sits below 260......So what is in a #?  259, which is below 260, and is closer to that GOAL!!!!!

and that #, well, I’ll keep that # to myself for now.....

I’m Back.....

Welcome back.....Has it really been 7 years.....Holy Crap!!!!! 

I have been doing more reading in the last two months....probably more than I had done in the last few years combined...that is the truth......and I am LOVING it.....I am not going to dwell on why it took me so long to start, but now that I have, I do not plan on finishing anytime soon....

So now what???  Well as the description states, Leadership, Wisdom, Guidance, Recreation, Storytelling(yeah more of those memories), Coaching(a place I can put those tidbits I use that I have gathered myself or learned from others, and LAUGHTER......

Maybe you will like it, maybe you won’t...

Follow it, or Don’t....Go back and read the old ones...there are some doozies.....

So again, welcome back.....I hope you will enjoy this journey, as much as I do......

Next Week is Going to be Fun....

Wow, Wow, Wow....If you love College football then you  absolutely loved this last weekend...The only ones who absolutely hated this weekend...ALABAMA...Michigan fans, I think, can even stand the loss with the ballsy move by Brady Hoke...You wanna bet that all special teams coaches now practice Long Field Goals and how to defend them in case the kicker lofts a beauty that comes up just short....

This game was case in point to why I love college football...You think Auburn is out, back in, out, and back in again...You think that Auburn is going to have there hopes dashed when Saban gets one second put back on the clock.....and just think if that guy does not catch the kick...seriously did anyone think of that...another time I wish we all had Cartoon Character Bubbles over our heads...can you imagine the one over him....

"OMG, OMG, oh sh$%, oh sh%&, I got this,I got this...do not drop it...here we go, got it, block that guy, and that guy, uh-oh, have to stay in bounds.....yikes, almost stepped out.....HOLY SH%^ I am going to WIN the game....What up bi$%^#s.........."  or something similar, hahahahahahahaha.....

So here it is, the new Kasparek Poll and some scenarios for the BCS Championship Game:

1) AUBURN-WIN and IN...
2) FSU-WIN and IN..
3) Ohio State-Win and either an Auburn or FSU loss and they are in...
4) Missouri-Win and OSU loss and they are in.....
5) Oklahoma State-Win and Auburn, FSU, and OSU loss....
6) Alabama-OUT
7) Clemson-OUT
8) Michigan State-OUT
9) Arizona State-OUT
10) Stanford-Out

Predictions:
Auburn over Missouri
FSU over Duke
Michigan St. over OSU
Oklahoma St. over Oklahoma
Baylor over Texas
Arizona State over Stanford

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP: Auburn vs FSU

HOMER HOPE of the week: IowaFootball  cracks the top 25 after consecutive wins over Michigan and Nebraska.

Throw-Up in my Mouth Moment of the Week: When the cameras caught AJ McCarron's Model Girlfriend asking him if he was ok after the loss as he ran off the field and hugged his Mom, Dad, and of course the Auburn Graduate Girlfriend who has been featured on all sports networks and papers since Brett Musburger googoo gagaed over her during last years BCS game....Puke....

I Love College Football-Kasparek Poll

Oh my, how I love college football...How can you not...I have always loved it more than any other sport and it trumps the NFL every time for me...every time.  The reason, very simple, from week to week you never really know what can happen.  It is real drama with real "kids", with no "real" money...this season is shaping up to be a classic...a classic pain in the ass to fans and media folks around the country.

So here it is, the NEW Kasparek Poll...

1) Florida State-They will not have REAL test until the BCS Championship Game...Duke or UNC in a few weeks in the ACC Championship game and Florida next week....The only thing that could bring down the seminoles at this point is if the allegations being flung QB 1's way are true.
2) Auburn-If, and I think they will, beat Alabama, they are in the Championship game.
3) Alabama-See #2...
4) Ohio State-I want them to lose to Michigan.  I repeat, I want them to lose to Michigan.  I do not think it will happen, but I want them to lose to Michgan.  What can I say, I am a Homer...:)
5) Oklahoma State- They did not just beat Baylor, they DESTROYED them.....
6) Clemson-Not a lot of people are paying attention to them, but that loss to FSU is not looking as bad as it once did.
7) Missouri-Big game this week against A&M
8) South Carolina-Big week with Clemson coming to town.
9) Michigan State-They have a lot of ground to make up, but could over the next month.
10) Baylor- That was an A$$ whooping.  When you want to be the best you have to WIN the tough ones.

No longer in the TOP 10 and should not be: Oregon, Stanford

Big Games this week-
Minnesota at Michigan State-MSU
Ohio State at Michigan-OSU, but I repeat I want Michigan to win.
Florida State and Florida- Not even Tim Tebow can save the Gators this week.
Alabama at Auburn- Auburn
Clemson at South Carolina- South Carolina
A&M at Missouri-Missouri
UCLA at USC-USC has completely turned around their season.  Take off the interim tag and hire the guy already.
Arizona at Arizona State-ASU, Zona cannot do it two weeks in a row....

A New #1...for now....

Over the next few weeks the Top 10 is going to be CRAZY...at least that's what I predict....but like I said last week, I am done going off of the polls....This is the Kasparek Poll...

Top 12

Baylor- Sorry FSU fans, but Baylor is pretty unreal, and their schedule keeps getting stronger, while the Seminoles keeps getting weaker..
FSU-See #1
Auburn-Yep, it took a last second Holy Sh*t play, but their running attack is crazy.
Alabama-Sorry Tide...no not really.
Ohio State-Still not that convinced on them, but they keep taking care of business.
Clemson
Missouri
Oregon-Pac 12 not looking so good these days....
Oklahoma State-Impressive victories, and could get better.
Texas A&M-Johnny Sharpie continues to impress and much as I hate saying it.
South Carolina-Nothing special, but takes care of business.
Michigan State

HUGE Games w/ Predictions:

Toledo OVER Northern Illinois @ Toledo
A&M OVER LSU @ LSU
Michigan State over Northwestern @ Northwestern
UCLA OVER Arizona State @ UCLA
Kansas State over Oklahoma @ K State
Oklahoma State over Baylor @ Oklahoma State

Trap Doors and the 1st REAL Kasparek Poll...

Yep, I fell into the trap...I did what all of us do...I looked at the polls, looked at the future games and more importantly, I let the BCS dictate my thinking...

This past weekend I did something all sports fans like to do....Debate sports...but more importantly debate COLLEGE FOOTBALL...I have never for a second flip flopped on what sport is my favorite...COLLEGE FOOTBALL...my favorite team...IOWA....my favorite conference.....THE BIG TEN(I know, I know there are not 10 TEAMS), let it die.

In that debate, I faced a hard truth and reality...I was letting the polls etc. dictate who I thought was the best...IT was not me, it was a combination of things....

That being said, I also came to a realization(which probably happened many, many years ago)...that all followers of any team in any conference can argue till they are red in the face why there conference is the best in the WORLD...and you know what...there is nothing wrong with that....

So without further ado...here is the 1st REAL Kasparek Football Poll...This is based on what I have seen, what I believe, who they have played thus far, who they have beat, and who they have lost to and where....

1) I do feel that losses can be worse than others..
2) I do feel that where you loose can have an impact.
3) The # of quality wins does matter...
4) If you were at full strength at the time of a win or a loss can matter.
5) Where you started in the poll does not matter...If it was up to me...Poll would not happen until just about now...
6) I do feel that how you win matters....

1) Florida State
2) Baylor
3) Alabama
4) Auburn
5) Ohio State
6) Clemson
7) Missouri
8) Oregon
8.1) Stanford(They LOST to UTAH)
10) Oklahoma State
11) South Carolina
12) Texas A&M
13) Michigan State

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

Hodge Podge Saturday.....

So sports just seems to get wackier and crazier by the day.  Sports reporters and sports news agencies all looking to BREAK the story seem to dig for anything and everything.  Shoot, who am I kidding, this is not just sports reporting, rather reporting in general these days.

Case in point, the entire Ingognito and Martin case in Miami.  Does anyone outside of the team know what is happening...nope, but you would think so.  There are way too many inconsistencies in everyones stories to even begin to know.  What I hate, and could add to my list previously in the week, is how ALL of us, including myself latch on only to the side of the story that interests us.  We will look for any news source, article, picture that provides us with our side of the story and too many times fail to look for the facts.  Example in this story...has anyone looked and seen if the transcripts of the phone calls included the entire conversations?  I can tell you they have not.

Best banter I have heard so far about this situation was via Mike and Mike's Podcast from the 7th....granted the 8th may even be better, but have not a chance to listen to it yet...

Now to the fun side of sports...

1) College Basketball Season has started.....and the truth is we really do not know anything...you think the College Football Polling can be crazy...It has nothing on the Basketball poll which will chenge 6,432.433 times before March Madness gets here....What we do know, and as Joey from friends used to say....Kansas..GOOD....Duke...Good....Kentucky....Good....Michigan State...Good....Louisville....Good....and the best thing for this HOMER...Iowa will eventually be ranked this season....

See as many games as you can of any Freshman in College Basketball with just a hint of talent...It may be the only season you ever see them play a meaningful game again....because it will be 1 and done for most of them before they go for the dollars in the NBA....The top ones of course will go to the teams with the worst NBA records, and they may someday get a chance to play for a contender, but more than likely not....

Another thing you just learned about my sports interests....College Basketball over NBA Basketball anyday.

2)College and Pick-ems for this weekend for the Top 25 and Iowa...

Iowa over Purdue(HOMER-VILLE, all the way)
Missouri over Kansas
FSU over Wake
Auburn over TN in TN
Texas Tech over KSU
Mississippi St will fall to A&M
Wisconsin over BYU
ASU will go to Utah and do what Stanford still wonders how they didn't.
Oklahoma State over Kansas
Miami over Virginia Tech
Central Florida over Houston
BAMA big over LSU
Notre Dame over Pitt
ZONA over UCLA
Fresno State over Wyoming

Happy Saturday and GO HAWKS!!!!

KASPAREK POLL 1.1 and Fantasy Football Angst...

Yep...picked that game correctly didn't I.  Oh wait...nope, had OREGON trouncing Stanford, and in a term that is sometimes overly used..."That's why they play the games"

I did correctly pick the Baylor Beat down of Oklahoma, so 1 and 1 isn't to shabby....

and in Fantasy Football news, the ever frustrating choice of Eli Manning or RGIII continues to drive me absolutely nuts this season.  Sat RGIII last night along with his 30+ points.

Eli, can you possibly give me just a small percentage of what your big brother provides his Fantasy Football owners....Please....

So here it is the Updated Kasparek College Football Poll going into the weekend...

1-BAMA
2-FSU-One more tough game...
3-OSU-Not a tough schedule.
4-BAYLOR-For a few more weeks...they have a brutal schedule the rest of the way.
5-MISSOURI
6-STANFORD
7-OREGON
8-MIAMI
9-CLEMSON
10-AUBURN

The Night of Oregon and Stanford...

So Oregon and Stanford play tonight.  Pretty big game for both schools.  Oregon wins and they have smooth sailing the rest of the season.  Oh sure all of the OSU(Oregon State) fans out there want to say the "Civil War" game sparks a chance...Nope, it really does not.  Stanford wins and it keeps them away from the dreaded 2 loss mark and keeps them relevant in the BCS picture for at least another 2 weeks or so.

If Oregon loses, it knocks them out of the National Championship Picture and also worries the Duck fans that they may not even make it to the Rose Bowl.

The BIG, HUGE, POTENTIAL WINNER tonight...Florida State.

Oregon Loses, and Florida State is the clear cut favorite, and the team with the easiest road to the National Championship.

That all being said, Oregon will pound Stanford, Stanford will have 2 losses, and Florida State and Oregon will continue to jump back and forth over each other till one looses...

Idiots of the day:  http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/9936032/chicago-bears-fan-tasers-green-bay-packers-fan-wife

Get them out of the way now, and discuss later....

So as sports fans we all have those things that we cannot stand, or that absolutely drive us nuts, or on the other hand absolutely love.....here are a few of mine....and please, please chime in on the comments...do not be afraid....

1) DRIVES me nuts when athletes on the teams that I cheer for talk smack about the other team during the week leading up to the game. The good news is Iowa has not had the chance to do this much lately.

Seriously, don't most fans want their players to shut the hell up and just play.  Hey Oregon fans, how many of you are exicted about your boy telling the media that they are going to put 40 points up on Stanford.

Now don't get me wrong, I love if the opposite happens and Iowa is the underdog(which they most of the time are), and the other team talks shit.  Motivate, Motivate, Motivate....as in most sports cases...lots and lots of hypocrisy....

2) I hate penalties on excessive celebrating in the end zone...Are you flipping kidding me...Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate...Someone wants to go and do something apeshit crazy that hurts them...so be it...I miss seing College Athletes getting excited after scoring a basket, catching the late TD pass etc.  LET THEM HAVE FUN!!!!!

3) I like replay in Football, but we do it wrong...Why can't we just have one more official that is under the hood all the time...Seriously...the red flag gets thrown, the guy watches, and he has 30 seconds to decide.  This of course would replace the 100 yard dash to the hood, getting the headphones from the hood guy, and then waiting WAY TOO LONG for the replay....Call me CRAZY, but I have never been to a football watching party and it take more than 30 seconds for the FANS to know what the hell happened.

4) The DH in AL is AWESOME and the Pitcher hitting in NL is just as AWESOME...

5) Speaking of Baseball....outlawing collisions at the plate...ladies and gentleman another example of the Wussification of America.  Thats why they have pads....While we are at, but the cage in front of the pitching mound to protect the pitchers, give all of the fans helmets, and make the balls out of NERF....

6) Tickets for all sporting Events should be sold at face value.  How do we do it, control it?  Hell, I have no idea, but I think it would be nice...

7) Ball Parks, Bowl Games, Tournaments etc. should not have Cheesy Ass Names that are there because of the company willing to give the most money...Put the company's name all over the programs, the T-shirts, caps, etc. but not the event/stadium..ie. These were fine at one time...

8) There are too many damn bowl games.  Not every team in DI football has to play in a bowl game...Just blew the dust off of an old Iowa Football Program from the 85-86 Season....These were the bowls....go back and refresh on #7 before reading..

Independence Bowl
California Bowl
Cherry Bowl
Holiday Bowl
Florida Citrus Bowl
Aloha Bowl
Sun Bowl
Freedom Bowl
Liberty Bowl
Gator Bowl
Peach Bowl
All-American Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
Cotton Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
Sugar Bowl
Rose Bowl
Orange Bowl

9) Be a Proud Homer, and if you do not have a team to be a Homer about, find one soon, and then GO ALL IN!!!!!

10) Have sports heroes.  Sure we have been let down by some pompous ass primadonnas as of late, but never stop hoping that the next one will be one we can be proud of.
****and NO I AM NOT SAYING THAT ONLY ATHLETES CAN BE HEROES!!!!!

11) Idiot of the DAY, the lady that thought it was a GREAT idea to dress up as a Boston Marathon Runner who survived the bombing...scars and everything...if you have not seen it, google it..REally? Really?

GO HAWKS!!!!!!

Intro to HOMER-VILLE

I love Sports, I love Sports, I love Sports, and I LOVE the HAWKEYES..What can I say...always have, and always will....Dad actually used to say to me, "If you would spend as much time studying your school work as you do the Hawks and Sports...who knows?"

He was/is, probably right, so I have decided to combine my passion for sports, and give the Naples version of From the Bench a sibling.  People are going to agree, disagree, banter, talk smack, etc. but I do have ONE IMPORTANT RULE...No hate...you hate towards another HOMER and you are done...There is no place for it here, and I cannot stand it...We can be civil and talk sports in such away.

I am going to share my suggestions for Sports Books, Movies, Articles...Provide commentary on popular sports info etc.  How often am I going to post...No Clue....but this should be fun....

So here we go.....

KASPAREK COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL from 11/4/2013(with some corrections)

1-BAMA-Will steamroll LSU this weekend, sorry Jimmy Angerman....and they will not face a REAL test till last game of regular season at Auburn.
2-UO(corrected for the Blog Chris Denison, Kori Sickles and Dane Adams)-Will not lose in Palo Alto to Stanford, but may to Arizona two weeks later in Tucson.
3-FSU-is on fire, and so is Renee Rhinehart about this team. No real test for them either until last week of Season against Florida in the Swamp.
4-OSU-Big Ten is week(crying as I type it), but all this winning could be for naught as they will enter last game of regular season in Ann Arbor undefeated, and the Wolverines will have nothing to lose.
5-Baylor-Will roll over the Sooners this Thursday night, and remain undefeated for a few more weeks before losing to Ok State in Stillwater.

6-Stanford-for one more week...Then they will fall after they lose to Oregon.

7-Missouri

8-Miami-bad loss to a GREAT team, and cannot drop them below Clemson.
9-Clemson
10-Oklahoma-for one more week and then they will drop after there loss to Oklahoma.

11-Auburn(which could see a big jump next week if they take care of business at TN, because then they have the most to gain with Georgia and Alabama coming to town back to back.
12-Texas A&M-Not ready to put this in Permanent Marker yet (What? To soon?)
13-LSU-will drop next week after a blow out loss to Alabama.
14-South Carolina
15-Fresno State(Still undefeated and will remain so until they lose to San Jose State their last game of the regular season.)

16-Northern Illinois(will remain undefeated until their last game of the regular season @ Toledo)
17-Oklahoma State who has a TON to gain with there final three games being @ Texas, and at home against Baylor(to give them their first loss) and Oklahoma.
18-Central Florida-Should be higher than most are putting them, simply because they beat Louisville at Louisville.
19-Michigan State- Big Ten may be bad, but they continue to produce.
20-Louisville-because I can drop a team below a team that beat them head to head. 

21-Wisconsin-They continue to get it done, will not lose another game this season and their only two loses are to Ohio State and Arizona State, who enters my poll for the first time this week.
22-Arizona State-brutal schedule the rest of the way.
23-Notre Dame-squeaked by Navy and they are squeaking in to my Top 25.
24-Ole Miss-Their losses are @ Auburn, @ Alabama, and at home against Texas A&M as opposed to Georgia, BYU, Oregon State, Virginia Tech, and Houston, all of which have BAD losses. It was the lesser of evils.

25. Texas Tech-Loss to Oklahoma State is not to bad...

My Most Important Post.....

As many know by now, I decided back at the end of March that I would be running the ING NYC Marathon for the USO on November 4th.... 


Then at the end of May I opened up Facebook and was saddened to read the post of my dear friend Allie, who I had not seen since leaving Washington. Her husband Sean had been shot and killed in Afghanistan. In my almost 15 years of working for the US Navy I had never had this feeling. Never had I had someone in my Military Family lose their spouse or family member, and being this far away, there was nothing I could do.


Then I remembered that the USO had stated in their e-mails to the athletes, that we could run for fallen service men and woman. I knew then, what I wanted/had to do.

Towards the end of June I sent a message to Allie asking for hers and Sean’s Families blessing in running the marathon for Sean. 
On the 4th I will be wearing the outfit I have discussed numerous times, but more importantly, will be my shirt….

As you can see, on the front, are those folks that have supported the USO through your generous donations….

The MOST IMPORTANT part of the shirt will be the back, and who will be helping carry/push me through those 26.2 miles from above.

It is because of the sacrifices of men and women like Sean that we have the Freedoms that we do, and NEVER should take those Freedoms for granted.

I ask that you keep Allie, their daughter Addie, and Sean’s Family in your prayers.

W/ much Love,

Chris

Last Cake??? and an Update on the 35....

It's almost been a month since, I first posted about the ING NYC Marathon, and a lot has happened in that time..The Summer officially started, the family went to London, and training finally kicked into gear...The Big Running training begins next week, but the eating right and the diligent training has began.

Also in this period of time, I received some humbling and inspiring news which I will be sharing at a later time with a little help from an AMAZING friend.

Then there was the article by the USO Blog.  I am so very thankful to all of those that entrusted me with their Birthdays, Baby Showers, Farewells, etc. and donated to such a good cause...Speaking of the cakes...Below you will find what may be the last one before the race.  I am now only doing cakes for those that are willing to donate a minimum of $100 to the USO through my link.  The cake below was the hardest I have done.  Not because it was hard to decorate, rather because it was the first one that I could not lick the beaters, the bowl or the frosting....Staying strong.

Speaking of staying Strong, you will see my NYC Poster now has some X's through it.  Today was the 2nd weigh in.  I am happy with my number...Would have liked to have seen it a little lower and a few more X's, but have to remind myself that I had some pretty good fish and chips(and a few frappacinos) while in London.  For you that took the 35 pound bet, it was an official weigh in by a friend.

So it has been about 3 weeks since I have had a soda, energy drink, beer, glass of wine, or cigar...and boy do I miss it.  But as you will find out in an upcoming blog, my inspiration at this time is not something I am willing to sacrifice these things for.  Granted it would have been nice to have a Beer with my Friend in London and my Brother while here is here visiting.  It will make it even more amazing on November 4th when I have a Drink or 100 :)

Finally, I invite those that may have not donated to the link below, you still can....

Love you all...

Chris


Link to the USO Story:

http://blog.uso.org/2012/06/25/cake-decorator-raises-dough-for-uso/

Link to Donate:

www.teamuso.org/2011/christopherkasparek

6 Down, 29 to go....

Last Cake???

ING NYC Marathon or BUST!!!!

On November 4th, 2011, I will be running the ING NYC for the USO...Many of you already know this, as I have spent the last two months raising the required funds for the USO.  This was done through Baking and Decorating Cakes as well as soliciting donations.  That goal was reached, and now Goal #2 begins tomorrow.

It is no secret that since HS I have fought this battle that is called weight...Weight goes up, weight goes down.  I get into a disciplined period and rock, and then I let myself go...Right now I find myself at a crossroads...I have to make a decision and I have to stay the course..So tomorrow, June 18th, I start my training for November 4th.  The diet will change, not a diet, but the diet will change and the work-outs will intensify.  This happened back in 2009 when I trained for the Marine Corps Marathon and got in the best shape of my life.

The goal this time is simple....40 pounds...40 pounds by Race Day...40 Pounds by November 4th.  I owe it to myself, my family and our Men and Women around the globe that I will be representing when I run those 26.2 miles for the USO.  At this time, I do not have a GOAL time, instead, my goal is to stay healthy, disciplined and on TASK.

Attached is a poster that is hanging in my office door and in our house...I will see it everyday when I wall into my office and I will see it everyday when I walk down our house stairs in the morning.  Each Picture represents one pound...Pictures that I will cross off the board as I knock them out of the park.  The poster will also have a thermometer that represents the 40 pounds....

At work all of my colleagues know what is going on, and will be making sure I do not stray.  My families and friends are aware, just as they were in Washington....It never hurts to have additional help.

So as I embark on what feels like the 15,000th adventure, I re-start this BLOG with a new title and a new goal...This BLOG Will be that JOURNEY....Welcome Aboard!!!!

and REMEMBER you can still DONATE!!!!

www.teamuso.org/2011/christopherkasparek

A Little Mental Toughness....

On Saturday, I set out with a few goals in mind...Well actually one goal and one default goal....Goal #1 was to set a PR in the Half-Marathon(1:47) and Default Goal was to set a PR for the Rock N Roll Seattle Half Course in case I did not set a PR for the day...

The day started out rough...4:15 a.m. Wake-up, get ready for the race, load up the family with the help of Vanessa and head over to Seattle...From 4:15-6:15 it was SMOOOOOOTH, then we got to the drop-off area...actually 15 blocks from the drop-off area...It was here that I had to get out...otherwise Vanessa and the kids would be in traffic for the next hour....I already made her get up at the butt crack of down, this may be pushing it.

So I got out and started walking with Hundreds of my closest friends to the Starting Line....2 Miles later, I was there....Let me think, the last thing I was to do before a Half Marathon is walk two miles...

It was now 6:45 a.m. and the race start was in 15 minutes..."Well, I had better start my watch"  Sometimes it takes a few minutes to pick up the satellites...Wanted it to be ready for the start..This is how I pace, how I motivate, how I stay on track.....HOLY SHIT!!!!!  That's right, it did not turn on...NOOOOOOOOOO, this could not happen...I already hurt, I was mentally tired...I needed it...I actually tried the damn thing for the next 5 minutes, to no avail, and with every failed start the SHITS, F#$%s etc. got louder...Now what?? Well I had to pee, and I had to pee bad...Have you ever been too a race with 27,000 people?  Well it seems as if all of them have to go to the bathroom at the same time...So after waiting in line for 9 minutes, It was time to get into my corral for the start...

How was I going to meet my goals...I have not run WITHOUT a watch in a race for over 2 years....First thing I did was look at my playlist...Memorized the order of the last 5 songs and told myself, when they start, I will have to be at mile 11+ or else....Then the gun went off, and we started to slowly progress to the starting line...When it was my turn, my corral was 9 minutes behind the start of the clock....and then it hit me, that will be my clock....

So for the next 13.1 miles, I would look at the time and subtract 7-9 minutes dependent on how I wanted to feel...and it worked...

It all worked, my music cues and the clocks...enough so that when I crossed the finish line at 1:54:23 I still had songs remaining and I had set a PR for the Rock n Roll Course...LAst year I ran it in 2:06...12 minutes better...I will take it....I missed a PR in the half by 6 minutes...so there is another goal.

So what did this race teach me...I have a little mental toughness....and I am going to need it as I move forward with my training for the Portland Marathon in October...My goal is to get back down under 200 by the start of the race, and to set a new PR for the Marathon...so for those of you keeping track, I will need to get a 3:58.....

Enjoy the pics...and thank you to all of you who read this and comment...I appreciate all of you....

Love

Chris

Thank you I-Pod....

The last month has been pretty brutal for my training...Why?  Well I never really took a break after the marathon...Instead I immediately jumped into the maintaining my miles for the next marathon on June 26th...So my feet have hurt, my achilles have hurt etc.  What did I do...Nothing, just have kept running...

Then today happened...I was supposed to do a 20 miler...supposed to do...That sounds so funny...Like anything less would be a failure...NOT...This 20 was already starting off bad, I had a great late night last night catching up with an old college friend...So I was a little tired this morning...

So I started out the run with all of the usual suspects, the water, jelly beans etc.  and of course my I-pod...The first 8 miles were great....then it happened...the I-pod died....actually the battery did...and I immediately felt the pain, tiredness and lack of energy kick in as I struggled through the next 2 miles...but what I did not know was that it would be the best two miles mentally that I had experienced in quite some time.

Rewind 3 years ago...the day after the Super Bowl in 2007....This was the day that I changed my life...Yes, I know that I have told this story before, but this time is different...The reason I changed my life originally was because I had a fear that I was going to die before ever seeing my children grow old, walk down the aisle, be a grandpa, celebrate my 10th, 15th, 20th etc.  Wedding Anniversary with Vanessa.... Yes, I know that anything can happen, but I had control of this...I had control of my weight, so that is why I started Running, and Running and Running...

Today though I realized that in running, running and running some more I have started to now jeopardize being able to do those things again...I have stopped listing to my injuries and have for reasons yet to be determined started to compete, compete and compete again with myself...I have always thrived on competition, loved competition and still do...but I have to remember to keep it in perspective, and make sure that my priorities are right....and no I have not been neglecting my family, but I do not want to start to or cause myself to by taking unnecessary risks...

That being said, I am going to switch my entry for the Marathon at the end of the month to a Half-Marathon entry....Why?  Because my body is telling me so...if I limp while running I am going to limp while playing with the kids etc.  So instead of running two marathons in two months I am going to go for setting two PB's in 2 months...a Marathon PB and a Half-Marathon PB...More Realistic?? Of Course??  But will it also allow my body to heal? Yes... Allow me more time with the family?? Yes...Which was why I started this journey in the first place...

So as I look forward to the year in advance and what races I will be competing in, I am changing my goals....Goal #1: Remember why I started this in the first place..#2: Spend more time with family #3: Set a PB on June 26th in the Half Marathon...#4: Set a PB in the Marathon in October at the Portland Marathon....

So thank you I-Pod for giving me 2 miles of perspective...