A month out..

Less than a month before Boston. Training is coming along very well. There have been some definite bumps in the road, including one fall that beat me up pretty well. One more 20 miler to do before the taper. Some nerves when I think about it, for sure, but I feel good and feel ready. I'm excited.

Training Updates

So, as predicted - this has been quite a challenging winter to be training for the Boston Marathon. There has been cold, ice, sleet, slush, mud, heavy winds...pretty much everything except nice weather. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and at least I don't live in Boston! I think they're still digging out.

These are photos from a 12 mile run that started with snow, then changed to sleet mid way. That's a frozen iPod cord, and frozen hat, hair, jacket, skin, etc.

I managed not to slip on any of the snow/ice to the point where I fell. Now that all that is melted, I fell. On a rock. Outcome, not so great, but nothing broken, and I did get up and run 9 more miles.

At least the training has been interesting. 20 this Sunday, hoping for "uneventful".

Monkeywrench

Just one thing before I quit
I never wanted any more
than I could fit inside my head
I still remember
every single word you said
and all the shit that
that somehow came along with it
Still there's one thing that comforts me
Since I was always chained
But now I'm free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7rCNiiNPxA

Sandy - probably done.

With the exception of a few brush strokes here and there and a signature, this is complete. Full painting shown with two detail shots. This is a breaking wave from Hurricane Sandy a few years ago.

Eyes Wide Shut

So, I closed the eyes.

Courage Unmasked

These photos show the progression of a project for "Courage Unmasked" which is an event to benefit Tunnell Cancer Society and mouth/throat/neck cancers.

The mask is a plastic mesh worn by the patient during radiation. Artists are transforming the masks and they can be seen in whole at an event/exhibition at the Rehoboth Art League in September.

I started by layering the mask with torn sheets of rice paper, adhering it to the mask with acrylic medium. Then a purple tissue paper lined the same way inside the mask to give it a vascular feeling through the white rice paper. Next came torn pages from the book "When Things Fall Apart" and more rice paper. Next the mask was bolted to a black wrapped canvas and more tissue and rice paper were added, along with the word "free" seen beneath the mask.

This has been a very organic, creative experience, something beyond painting and for a worthy cause. Keep your eye on the RAL website as well as Beebe Hospital's site for more info on the fall event.

What a difference a day makes

It's so nice when a random 50-60 degree shows up in February. Today the sun shone bright, the wind stayed light and the temps were springlike. The trail was muddy from all the ice melting, but it sure felt good to first take off the hat, then the jacket, and to run in a t-shirt. It made 11 miles feel so much better. The day made my heart lift a little, knowing the spring is coming.