Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Dreams come true #6: I ran in the Publix Georgia half-marathon
For the first time on March 17, 2013, I ran in a major race. I ran a half-marathon for the first time and loved every minute of it. I took part in the Publix Georgia half-marathon on the morning of St. Patrick's Day and saw how the day changed from dusk to dawn.
My journey started in Downtown Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park. I ran down Marietta Street, north on Piedmont Avenue, and then Eastbound toward Virginia Highland. I ran up Moreland Avenue through Little Five Points, and I desperately wanted to see The Vortex up my route. I wanted to see the skull-like entrance to that fabled restaurant. I passed it, but I didn't see it. It would be the only disappointment of the day running the race.
After running through Little Five, I went westbound on Freedom Parkway and ran through some neighborhoods to get to Piedmont Park. When I entered Piedmont Park, I ran at least nine miles of the 13.1 of this race. In that moment, that was the most amount of miles I've ever run in one moment. I never ran nine miles on the treadmill or outside before. This was a huge "milestone" in my running history.
What kept me going was people in the CBS Atlanta News cheerzone propelling me through Piedmont Park. CBS Atlanta's Jeff Chirico was my biggest supporter of the day when he cheered me on. I kept going, and then I saw the 'dreaded' hill that was the westbound portion of 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta. I didn't walk, but I slowly ran up the hill as I was doing my best to maintain my ten minute a mile pace. I believe that I would have to settle for an 11 mile a minute pace instead after that stretch.
After surviving 10th street, I ran through Juniper Street, and that was a little uphill too. The last third of the race seemed like it was all uphill, but I was determined to finish no matter what the cost would be to me. After finishing off Juniper Street, I went eastbound on 5th street and crossed a bridge over the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85) and saw yet more supporters and drink stations to fuel me up and keep me running.
Next I ran southbound on Techwood Drive. I don't remember much about that portion of the run other than seeing Bobby Dodd Stadium to my right (home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' football team). Running down North Avenue and Tech Parkway were the last two blurs of my memorable run. Somehow, I remember the M&M's that I ingested to power me through the final mile of the half-marathon. Now that i remember, when I saw "MILE 12" on Tech Parkway, I could taste the finish of this race.
In that final mile, I ran nearly all of it on Marietta Street en route to the finish line at Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta. That run seemed like it was slightly uphill. Deep down I was conflicted for the last 5,280 feet. I wanted to sprint and go all out, but I did not want to pull a quad or a hamstring. I would have been so disappointed in myself if I did not finish what I started. As I was running down the last 4,000 feet, I had to look at the big picture and finish the race. As I was heading down the last 3,000 feet, I tried to countdown the number of steps it would take to finish so that i could keep my mind active and keep myself running. As I kept moving down the final 2,000 feet, I wanted to count the number of green flags to the right of me. As I was traveling down the final 1,000 feet, I stopped thinking and kept running.
Finally, I could turn the corner going left to see the finish line. As I saw the finish with the time clock moving, I raised both of my hands and said "I DID IT", "I DID IT", "I did it!!!" I cried right before I crossed the finish line and the last thing I remember besides the crying was that I finished the race. I saw the time as "2:35:46". I got my free water, my free chocolate milk, free sweat, and a free heat bag to keep me warm after I ran 13.1 miles. A few of my friends came over to congratulate me and take my picture of me after the race. I feel bad that I didn't think to take a picture of me before the race. I finished the race in 2 hours, 22 minutes. That time exceeded my prediction of wanting to finish in 2 hours, 30 minutes.
I ran in the half-marathon for myself, my wife, and our cat Gadget. I ran for myself to prove that I could overtime my asthma and my condition of being out of shape. I ran for myself so that I could overcome the times I failed to run the mile in 4th grade, 7th grade, and ninth grade. I remembered the times that I ran the mile, or at least failed to run the mile without stopping or feeling myself go out of breath. Running the mile scared me in 4th grade because that would be something I would fail in 1985-1986. In 7th grade, I finished dead last in the mile run in a track meet. The worst part of my failure was the kids in the bleachers made fun of me when I was way behind everyone else. That has stuck with me to this day, and I use that as motivation to keep going on the track or the treadmill.
I ran for my wife who believes in me and loves me. I ran for Gadget M. Cat who was recovering from surgery to remove a mass in his stomach. I ran for Gandalf who is a cute little kitty cat.
Next year, I want to run this race and finish it in under 2 hours and 15 minutes. 2:15 has a nice ring to it.
Dreaming of CNN again
This morning, I had a dream where I was working toward my way back to CNN. I was working to offer my services for Anthony Bourdain's new show on CNN called "Parts Unknown." Somehow, I got his business phone number. That gave me direct access to him to where I could pitch video and show ideas to him. When I called that number, I got one of his assistants on the phone. The first time I called she seemed nice and receptive to me when I was interested in contributing to his show. I was watching a baseball game on TV inside my old apartment at Post Lindbergh for the next two hours. The second time I called that number, I sounded too eager and too desperate to pitch video services to him. It was after I spoke to his assistant that she sounded mean and didn't want me to call her or the show team anymore. I came away disappointed after that phone call.
In reality, I woke up and I find myself in a good position to work for WGCL-TV/CBS Atlanta News as a video editor. I hope to learn more editing and producing skills while I'm employed as a non-linear editor. I can't say for certainty that I will work for CNN again. When the time comes, I will do what's best for my family and my career.
Also, I am a big fan of Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" on The Travel Channel. I am eagerly awaiting his new show on CNN in April. I love to travel, eat, and experience new things. I'm looking forward to my Sunday's at 9PM when I'm editing for the 11PM newscasts at CBS Atlanta News.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Dreaming of CNN again
Early this morning, I had a dream where I was working for CNN on a freelance basis. I was editing some video where the National Desk sits. Later on, I was moved to one of my old edit bays where I was working on a package. I was editing a four minute story on something that happened in Orlando, Florida. I don't remember what the story was about. I remember that it was at night, overnight in fact. It took me a long time to get the story put together visually on Final Cut Pro. I don't remember if I had someone check my work before I sent it over for air.
After I edited my package, I was watching a late night car chase on TV from the Los Angeles Area. I felt a really good sensation about working in news and enjoying what I did for a living.
In reality, I woke up and realized that I don't work for CNN anymore. It has almost been a year-and-a-half since I last worked for Turner Broadcasting. I don't think I've set foot inside the CNN Center since I interviewed for an Associate Producer position last July. Also, I came close to setting foot inside the CNN Center twice this past weekend. On Saturday, I volunteered for the Publix Health and Fitness Expo inside the Georgia World Congress Center. On Sunday, I ran the Publix Georgia Half-marathon, met our friends Pam and William at Centennial Olympic Park, ate at Meehan's Irish Pub, and attended the Deftones Concert at the Tabernacle.
I'm going to give everything I have to being the best I can be at CBS Atlanta News.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Dreams Come True #5: I move to Atlanta
On this date in history 13 years ago, I set foot in Atlanta for the first time. I stepped out of my comfort zone to being my career at CNN and more important, start a new life. My comfort zone was my dad's home in Mesa, Arizona and growing up in Arizona for more than 12 years before making the bold move across the country. Fortunately, I had a lot of help from my dad in packing the U-Haul and driving my old Chevy Cavalier with the U-Haul in tow along the way.
From the passenger side of the car, I saw the bright lights that made up Turner Field while we were traveling down I-20 at night. My dad drove the maze of freeways in Downtown Atlanta for the first time, getting lost and finding our way to where we needed to be for the night. Eventually we stayed at a Howard Johnson in Marietta, Georgia for the next few days before I settled into my apartment in the Buckhead section of Atlanta.
Learning about how CNN operated, learning about my duties as a video journalist, traveling on MARTA's rail lines, and seeing all parts of the CNN Center were amazing experiences that I will treasure forever.
I hope the next 13 years are more successful than the previous 13 years that I have enjoyed here in the Peach State.
Quick dream of Escondido Christian School
In reality: This dream lasted all of 10 seconds.
The dream: I was quickly transported to a place where I went to school for all of 4th grade and part of 5th grade. I saw the front cover of what looked to be a 1986-1987 yearbook cover in red with black lettering of Escondido Christian School. In the dream, one of the photos contained what appeared to be me and a girl from one of the school dances.
In reality: Just like that, I woke up. I moved out of Escondido, California on January 3, 1987. The last thing I remember doing at Escondido Christian School was taking an American History test and getting close to 100% on it. I guess you could say I ended my private school career on a high academic note.
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