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CIs and running

June 7, 2011 in Checkers AC, Cochlear Implants, Running

I’ve been ask to do a guest blog post about wearing CIs while running. Now, I am speaking as an experienced runner rather than the casual weekend jogger. And, I have been asked to model as a runner wearing CIs. I have done well over 500 miles of competitive running the last 5 years on top of countless number of miles of regular running. Hanging from the pipes in my basement are some half dozen pairs of ASICs GT series running shoes with very worn out soles. I have already gone through three watches and mind me, they aren’t cheap! I also bleed Checkers green as a diehard member of Checkers AC. And I am also one of the webmasters and a board member. If you want to see my running accomplishments, take a look at my own web site. Look for the link at the top – Running. I
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It’s amazing!

June 4, 2011 in Checkers AC, Running

Getting a new and permanent job with a world class organization is a dream come true (an old high school friend considers tide watching as his). Along with that, I have felt a resurgent and renewed sense of accomplishment. Now I truly feel like running again and running with a vengeance so long as my ticker holds out. And so at 10:00 today, I am gonna be back out there among the masses doing the Running Water 5K Run. So for all of those who though I am an easy dead rabbit…BOOYA! I am gonna be smokin’ y’all! BE THERE! You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement. -Steve Prefontaine

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The lighter side of Sam Spritzer

April 17, 2011 in Checkers AC, Lighter moments, Personal Reflections, Running

If you want to see me up close, just click on the picture. It’s not that scary….just a little goofy. This picture was taken by Checkers photographer at the Feel the Spirit 5K race, yesterday. As you can see closely, I am missing the lens in my glasses on the right side. This is not the first time it has happened. Only this time I wasn’t aware because of the way I was carrying them. Sucks to get old, doesn’t it? But then again, I shouldn’t be complaining since I have a full head of hair. My mom didn’t believe it nor did she believe I don’t have more than 10 gray hairs. She insisted on my niece checking my scalp to see if there was any coloring. I love my niece dearly. Next week is the Bunny Hop whose race director is the world famous Chuck Tokarz. This is
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First REAL race of the year

April 14, 2011 in Checkers AC, Running

This Saturday at the Infant of Prague church in Cheektowaga..the 6th annual Feel the Spirit 5K. This race is part of the Checkers Race to Savings where if you are a Checkers member, you save $2 off the application fee. It is also part of the Checkers Grand Prix, a new series exclusive for Checkers member. It is a series of 16 races where you score your best 10. And ranking based on the traditional sex/age groups, participants are placed in groups based on their pace groups. Even though the weather promises to be less than ideal, this race is very well organized with an excellent post-race party. The course is generally flat except for the last 200 yards which takes you on an up-grade to the finish line. Ready? Set? GO! BE THERE…DO IT!

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Ooooooooo….my achin’ body

April 6, 2011 in Checkers AC, Running

Last night was the first track practice for Checkers AC. Aside from the fact that it was in the 30s with wind gusts in the 20s and an occasional flurry, can you see how bundled up I am? The hawks were circling above and Ray made a comment that they were going to swoop down and steal my hat because it looked like a bunny tail. That hat is close to 30 years old. It was handled out to the employees and volunteers of Covenant House at a Christmas party sometime back in the 80s. The workout consisted of 12, yes TWELVE, sprints of 200 meters each with a 200 meter jog back to the starting point. For those of you who wonder, 12 times 200 equals 2400 which comes out to 2.4 kilometers which translates to 1.84 miles. And at a 6 minute and 33 second mile pace which
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Run Sammy Run….

April 4, 2011 in Checkers AC, Running

Tomorrow night is the first practice for Checkers AC. It’s the rites of spring no matter what the weather. In a lot of ways, it is a reunion of sorts. All of our running friends will be together once again. This will be our sixth year as members and my fourth as a Board member. Six years ago, I was 30 plus pounds heavier, smoked a pack a day of Vantage and counted couch-potatoing as a hobby. Never in my wildest dreams did I though I would become a runner. It happened one morning when fellow member, Julie Donnelly, approached Steph about joining a family oriented running club. At that time, Steph was working out feverishly in the gym, at the Village Glen Tennis Club. And it was embarrassing enough that in all of our races together in 2005, she was beating me by a good 3 to 4 minutes.
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Have faith…

March 9, 2011 in Checkers AC, Personal Reflections, Running

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” -Mark 11:22-25 Despite all the nonsense that goes on around us in this world, I have faith and truly believe that things are done for a purpose and reason. We may not understand them but we do have to trust that the Lord has our best interests in mind. Last night, I joined a bunch of running friends from Checkers AC for
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It has been a while…

March 7, 2011 in BEA/Hearing Journey, Checkers AC

I haven’t forgot about my website. I have been busy doing…nothing. Saturday was the first race of the season for me – the Shamrock Run. Did it in 40:19 which averages out to an 8:06 per mile pace. That isn’t too shabby considering I have only ran outside three times this year. Most people will accuse me of sandbagging so that I can place in a lower group for the Checkers Grand Prix. Truth is, I am getting old. Well, we all are! At least there is a whole season ahead of me and pity my poor knees but I do plan on a couple of half-marathons and maybe a full or two. One of them won’t be Buffalo…drats! We have my cousin’s wedding that weekend. My ears have been playing very nicely now. At my last mapping, I scored 61% for the HINT test. That isn’t too bad considering
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This is what it was for…

May 31, 2010 in Checkers AC, Personal Reflections, Running

click to enlarge We woke up at 4AM to a cool crisp moony morning.  Two cups of Tim Horton’s, a protein bar and 16 oz. of HEED and out the door by 5:30, we go flying down the 33 to the Hyatt, downtown Buffalo.  The joint and streets were already jumping and we were lucky enough to get a parking spot a couple of hundred yards from the finish line.  We quickly met up with Linda and Kingsley.  Linda and Steph made up half of a Female Masters Relay team with the others being Diane who had just flown back from California and Carolyn.  Kingsley and I were going to try to pace each other along with Mike. The course runs along the west side of Buffalo before going along the river and then out to the harbor.  After coming out of the harbor, it heads south through the Irish
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This is what its all about…

May 29, 2010 in Checkers AC, Running

click on image to enlarge Tomorrow, I will be doing my very first half marathon at the Buffalo Marathon.  This is one of Western NY’s premier running events and the marathon that isn’t famous unlike some others like Boston or New York City.  It’s a beautiful course that runs through most of the city.  The half will be on the course that runs along the Buffalo River which feeds off of Lake Erie.  It will thread through the harbor and then head south through South Buffalo before swinging back up to the Convention Center.  From there to the north and back, the second half of the marathon continues.  The weather promises to be a top ten day where, as Dan Donoghue says, “people come from allllllll over the world for Buffalo’s weather.” For me, this race is a huge significance.  Not only will it be the longest race of my
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