Blog Master G

My Name is Mr. Ed, originally uploaded by Blog Master G.

One of Katie’s horses. Her wedding day. Warren, Oregon.

Oregon Llamas Rule, originally uploaded by Blog Master G.

Scappoose Creek Inn, Scappoose, Oregon.

Last night Jen and I attended an Obama rally at the Masie Center to watch Obama’s acceptance speech. Along with running into a few people we already know, we also met a new Blog Master G reader, who recognized us from the blog (always a fun experience). We talked with him for a bit before securing our standing-room-only spots at the back of the packed room (150+ people in attendance). The room was flanked by news cameras (both Capital News 9 and News Channel 13), and we managed to secure at least one on-camera shot, in yet another Anderson media appearance (I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve been on the news and in the paper, but it’s fun every time!).

Here’s a photo from the Channel 13 broadcast:

That’s twice in a week for Jen!

The Saratogian calls it Saratoga’s Wildest Race. Capital News 9 compares it to the Running of the Bulls. Whatever you call it, securing a picnic table for the $1 million Travers race day — the biggest event of the year in Saratoga — is not for the meek at heart. But my wife, being the rock star that she is, wakes up at 4am each year to join the crowds of hundreds jockeying for position outside the Saratoga Race Course hours before post time of the first race, in what is an event all is own.

This year, as was the case last, Johnny was right there with her. Rounding out team picnic table for Travers ’08 were Vinnie and Keith. I was actually prepared to join the team, but by the time I got there at the late hour of 6am, our team was squeezed in with the crowd behind police barricades, awaiting the 7am gate opening, so I wasn’t able to find them — and even if I had, I probably would have had hordes of angry masses attacking me for what would appear to be cutting in line. So I proceeded with my own 4-mile run Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Jen, Johnny, and team were charging through the turnstiles  in a mad dash to secure a most awesome locale for the day. And Capital News 9 was there to capture the moment:

If you watch the video, you’ll see Jen’s moment to shine — note that she’s the only chick in the clip — at around the 20-second mark. Enjoy!

And go team picnic table!

Travers Morning 2008, originally uploaded by Blog Master G.

Props to Jen, Johnny, Vinnie, and Keith for scoring 4 sweet tables in
our usual spot at the Saratoga Track for the biggest race of the year.
Jen and Johnny woke up at 4am. Go team!

I awoke at 5:45am, went for a 4-mile run, and am now holding down the
fort at 9:30am (arrived around 8:30am).

Happy Travers Day!

Who Stole Happy’s Tail?, originally uploaded by Blog Master G.

 If you want to live longer and eat whatever the hell you want, start running. Or swimming. A lot.

First, the living longer. In a new study that spanned 20 years, Stanford researchers found that a group of runners were less disease-prone and more likely to live longer:

Running ‘can slow ageing process’

Running not only appeared to slow the rate of heart and artery related deaths, but was also associated with fewer early deaths from cancer, neurological disease, infections and other causes.

I’ve clocked in about 760 miles so far this year since I started running — quickly closing in on the 800-mile mark and on track to surpass 1,000 miles in my first year of running — so I think I’m off to a pretty good start. 🙂

Next, there’s the eating. For many of those 760 miles, I wasn’t eating enough. Jen was always telling me to eat more and I’d have more energy. She was right.

Now that I eat two breakfasts a day, several glasses of Gatorade, a giant lunch, snacks throughout the day and night, and a dinner portion equivalent to probably twice what most people my weight consume, my runs have been stronger and faster. I no longer feel depleted of energy 5, 6, or 10 miles into a run.

Jen should be an Olympic trainer. Why?

She apparently already knew Olympic gold medal swimming dominator Michael Phelps’ training secret — the insane amount of food he eats every day:

Phelps is now the top Olympian of all time. Here’s what it takes …

US swimmer Michael Phelps made history yesterday when he scooped a record-breaking 11th Olympic gold medal. He has now topped the podium five times in Beijing. After his latest victory, he revealed the secret behind his six-days-a-week, five-hours-a-day training regime: an extraordinary 12,000-calorie daily diet, six times the intake of a normal adult male.

I don’t track my own caloric intake, but I am curious to see how it stacks up against the average person and against Michael Phelps.

Cheers to living longer and eating more!

Right now I’m finishing my first breakfast (bagel with peanut butter and seedless red raspberry jelly, and coffee), then going to run a 5-mile recovery run, which follows the 10.1 I clocked in on Wednesday and precedes my scheduled 13-miler this weekend; I’m on target for a 36-mile week in Week 2 of my Pftiz 55/18 training plan.

With all this eating and running, the Anderson Brothers are sure to dominate at CIM.

Saratoga Track Day 2, originally uploaded by Blog Master G.

I clearly remember 20 years ago today — 08.08.88 — when my Mom, Nana, and Bro were on an East Coast tour (having grown up in California, of course, this was a big deal for an 11-year-old). I believe we were visiting my East Coast family (grandparents, uncle, aunt, cousin).

On this day 20 years ago, I recall driving — err, riding as a passengere since I was only 11 — through beautiful, green, rolling country hills somewhere in Connecticut. We stopped in at an old B&B on the side of the road — maybe for brunch or some other meal? — and visited the gift shop.

I was drawn to this awesome stuffed bunny rabbit. He was gray and wore a velvet tuxedo with a gold pocket watch. He stood at least a foot tall and was a really classy guy. I immediately knew he had to be mine.

I used to have a great stuffed animal collection.

These days, it’s down to only a few classics, including Benji — the little brown bear who was the leader of all my stuffed animals (my favorite) and could fly (of course) and is older than I am:

…and  Nuts the Squirrel, a Beanie Baby I acquired in college ’cause, well, squirrels rule:

 

Back in 1988 at that B&B gift shop, I remember showing the stuffed bunny to Nana and telling her how awesome he was. The brand of toy that he was normally had a blue tag, but this rabbit was so classy that his tag was black.

But the thing that really sold me on that bunny? I turned over the tag and saw that he was called the After Eight Rabbit.

Nana bought the After Eight Rabbit for me on 8.8.88. And I’ll never forget that.

Sadly, I don’t know what happened to that rabbit. But at least I still have Benji and Nuts (and yes, I know I’m a little nuts).

 Happy 8.8.08!

Stella Wants Tilapia, originally uploaded by Blog Master G.