Progress Weeks 12 – 16
Week 16 comes to a close: 183.06 miles down, 146.94 to go! More than halfway there at 56%! In week 12, I logged 10.28 miles, 4.01 of them running. In week 13, I logged 17.63 miles, 7.5 of them running. In week 14, I logged 19.37 total miles, 2.5 of them running. I traveled that week and walked a lot but had a harder time sticking to a running routine. In week 15, I logged 10.27 miles, 2.5 of them running. In week 16, I logged 12.14 miles, 2.63 running. I traveled a lot for multiple weeks, so really got thrown off on my routine. Yet I persist with a gameplan for August that will get me back on track!
Week 12:
6/17: 8:40/mi – 2.01 distance
6/20: 9:09/mi – 2.0 distance
Week 13:
6/24: 9:03/mi – 2.5 distance
6/27: 9:27/mi – 2.5 distance
6/30: 9:03/mi – 2.5 distance
Week 14:
7/7: 9:48/mi – 2.5 distance
Week 15:
7/11: 9:30/mi – 2.5 distance
Week 16:
7/19: 7:44/mi – 1.01 distance
7/21: 8:45/mi – 1.62 distance
So far, I’ve secured $5,695.89 ($4,504.99 donated, $1,190.90 pledged) from 37 donors. This gets me 57% to my fundraising goal. We can make it!
Dedication
Miles over these weeks are dedicated to friends who I have served with over my time in the ToolBank network. Current and former board members of the Baltimore ToolBank have tuned into my journey and showed support throughout this campaign, which means a lot to me. In addition to their service as volunteers and cheerleaders, they are donors fueling my miles in this campaign. Thanks to Claire, John R., Jay, and Cheryl!
What’s in the Walkman?
Week 12 – Radiohead – all albums released in the 90s. You can’t beat the progression of Radiohead from “Pablo Honey” to “The Bends” to “OK Computer”, all released within four years.
Week 13 – The Geraldine Fibbers – “Lost Somewhere Between the Earth and My Home”. This is a gem of a band and album coming out of the middle-late 90s. Punk-tinged alt country-ish / hard to categorize. Finding this, their first full-length album, in 1995 was a revelation.
Week 14 – Soundgarden – “Badmotorfinger”, 1992. I was deep into the Seattle scene, as you can tell. This album was an early bridge for me between metal and grunge. As I grew older, I didn’t identify with the stupidity of the lyrics of bands like Metallica and sought out a tougher sound with more depth. This album still kicks!
Week 15 – Alice In Chains – all 90s albums. Keeping with a grunge and Seattle theme here. From “Facelift” to “Dirt” to their self-titled third release, each identified a mood and moment for me in my teens. I will also point out the incredible EPs “SAP” and “Jar of Flies”, also heavily rotated. Fun fact: In 1993, when “Wayne’s World 2” was in theaters, my friend Phil and I were dropped off at the mall by his mom to watch it. But this was a ruse. Phil’s mom was deeply religious and did not allow him to bring a band called Alice In Chains into her home, so we lied and said we were going to the movie but instead took our $7 and bought the EP “SAP”. I remember Phil had exactly $7 for the movie and the EP was $6.99 so I had to lend him change for the tax. I think I had exactly $9! How 90s is it to skip out on watching “Wayne’s World 2” to buy an Alice In Chains EP? To my knowledge, Phil’s mom still thinks we saw the movie.
Week 16 – Helmet – “Meantime”. Alt metal classic! The title track and “Unsung” are highlights. The whole album still spins on my Spotify at times.
Reflections
As I approach Week 17 and start to run a full 5k a couple times a week, I am a little banged up but not deterred. Traveling and keeping to a routine is hard, as evidenced by my miles. That said, I continue to progress and every increment of increased distance has been manageable. It is quite true that 1 mile never felt so small until I stared running 2, then 2.5, now 3.1. A mile seems like nothing to me now, so that’s progress.
I have to baby my left knee a little bit, as it’s balking at me. I need to warm it up a lot before actually running but it has forced me to research a better stretching regimen. Over the first week or so of my 3.1 runs in Week 17, I may reduce the number of times I run in the interest of resting it more so I can be sharper later. I have a full 14 weeks of running at 3.1 miles so can ease into it. I will also log smaller increments to keep the habit on days when I don’t have the time for a full 3.1 plus all the warm up and cool down recommended. I am reminded that time is a privilege I have some days more than others. I will also try trail running now that I’m at longer distances.
ToolBank Disaster Services Deployment
While most of my focus has been on our first ever mobile unit’s deployments over 11 years of service, this week I want to focus on a more topical deployment of resources. After devastating earthquakes hit Venezuela in late June this year, we mobilized with partners deploying internationally for the first time and were able to provide a significant amount of tools to empower response organizations. Multiple pallets were shipped thanks to logistical support from AirLink, Reach out Worldwide, and All Hands and Hearts.
Read the full deployment post here.
See you soon and don’t forget to keep your sneaks laced up (like it’s 1995)!
