Category: Stella

  • July 12, 2013: Did You Win?

    A few years ago, I ran the Tiveria Marathon and finished with a great time. I was very proud and happy with my accomplishment. When I got home, I started telling a friend about it. “I had a great run in Tiveria.” “Really! That’s Terrific! Did you win?” “Eh, no.” “Well what place did you…

  • June 28, 2013: How Much Can the Body Take?

    Every runner has hit the “wall” at some point. I have seen the strongest, most experienced runners have days where they were forced to shuffle until the end of a run. Sometimes the reason is due to mistakes. Maybe you didn’t drink enough, didn’t get enough sleep, didn’t train enough, trained too much etc. And…

  • June 7, 2013: The Run for Stella

    We started the run at four in the morning in the dark. Thirteen of us met behind my house in Neve Daniel for a 36 kilometer run to Bet Shemesh. I was thrilled that Stella got up and came outside at the early hour to see us off. Especially this week, to see her in…

  • June 4, 2013: Anniversaries

    Yesterday, Stella and I “celebrated” out twenty-second wedding anniversary. Some pasta from the Gush Etzion winery and a few episodes of a television show were all we could handle, but after twenty-two years, we don’t need an elaborate party. If twenty-two years sounds like a long time, keep in mind that we actually met each…

  • May 14, 2013: The Key to Mountain Biking/Dealing with Cancer

    I will be the first to admit that of the various sports I do, I am least competent at technical mountain biking. Unlike running, road riding, or even riding on packed trails, mountain biking demands mental effort as much as physical. While riding a twisty, rocky, trail — especially one with lots of steep drops…

  • April 15, 2013: Never Give Up

    First the most important update. Last night’s CT scan showed dramatic improvement. The cancer has shrunk significantly. Our Doc texted me a thumb’s up icon. (He is a man of few words. But we don’t mind the picture.) This morning in shul it felt like Yom Kippur. Fourth time this year. I knew that during…

  • March 11, 2013: Adjusting Expectations

    A few years ago, I was in Tiveria getting ready for my second marathon. I had trained meticulously for this race. I devoured every e-mail from the Bet Shemesh running club and ran every training run at the precise pace that would enable me to hit my goal time in the big race. I was…

  • March 8, 2013: Recovery Week

    The week after a marathon is one of my favorites. You still feel the pride of running the big race, of getting through all the hard parts in one piece, and now you can relax. I do a few runs and bike rides just to loosen up and help heal any damage that occurred during…

  • March 4, 2013: Jerusalem Marathon: A Wonderful Break

    It wasn’t my intention to write this post from the ER. But that’s the situation. I hope by the time you read this we will be home safe and sound and today’s little adventure will be forgotten. But let me back-up a few days. On Friday I ran the Jerusalem Marathon. It was my third…

  • February 8, 2013: Turning a Nightmare into a Dream

    I’m holding my daughter’s hand on Disney’s Rock and Roller Coaster. We are singing Aerosmith at the top of our lungs while the coaster plunges us round and round and upside down. We speed through the darkness and are just in awe of this ride. We get off and our first thought is how to…