Icy paths

 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ My car doesn't drive well on ice. And I'm not the best driver on the icy slick roads of Missouri, where salt trucks go unseen. So as I slid 25 feet down Broadway, I slowly crashed into a parked car. The driver had run out of gas. Bad luck. He didn't even flinch. He said he knew it was a matter of time. Nothing $1,500 can't fix. No more ice, please.

Chicken Soup to rid a cold

 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Mission: find a way to make RoseaLee and Baleigh feel better after coming down with a cold, possible flu-like.
Solution: chicken noodle soup.
After spending an hour on the Internet figuring out what's in this classic dish, I called my Aunt Ev to dig out grandma's recipe. Aunt Ev always made the best soup. So I bought a whole chicken, a new pot, vegetables and noodles. It came out perfect! I ate it for three days after. And it made RoseaLee and Baleigh feel a bit better. Victory!

Running from shadows

 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ When will winter end? I need answers. Or at least something to take my mind off the idea that snow and ice are still around. So I went underground this weekend to look for clues. There, in the industrialized caverns of Kansas City, I found 3,250 runners in T-shirts and shorts in mid-summer form. This was the Groundhog 10K with proceeds going to a children's learning center. Although I had planned to race the more popular 5K, I slept in a bit and made it in time for the 10K. This race I ran into Jimmy, Aileen, Laura, Ashley and a host of other Kansas City running friends. After following Aileen in the first mile to a 5:56, I decided to back off a little before running even splits the last four miles. In the first race of the year, I finished 96th of the 787 runners. My time was 43:44, a little above 7 minute pace. I had to be pleased with the time this early in the year. When I emerged from the caves to a 50-degree day, I saw my shadow. What does this mean? When will Kansas City's winter end?

So good

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. _ A fall trip home to Michigan would not be complete without fresh Michigan apple cider. It's my favorite drink of all time. Sorry Slurpee Gods.

Eternal Bliss

MUSKEGON, Mich. _ It isn't often when I can look around the room and realize that I'm a part of something great. But with my friends from my working era at The State News, this has become a common occurrence. I used to believe our work putting out the paper each day and that magic feeling it gave us is what made us great. But this weekend as 25 of us gathered from a dozen states, I realized it is much more. Each one of us is so diverse, so deep and so inspiring. To be part of a community is such an amazing feeling. This weekend I headed to Muskegon for the great Donica wedding. Don and Jessica, two college friends, flew in from Florida to tie the knot. The weekend ended up being one of the most memorable times I've had.

Wichita Marathon

WICHITA, Kan. _ Saturday I took another 26.2-mile trot. My fourth. While I had lofty time goals for the race, I fell short. My knee became sore at 15 mile and once I fell off pace, the race was pretty much over. But I still hung in there and finished in 4:03. Next up, the Gobbler Grind half marathon in Overland Park. Blas finished his first marathon and after his pain went away, he said he'd try it again, someday. For more pictures: http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2363312&l=7a147&id=2311281

On the last leg

KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ In just days I'll be taking part in the Wichita Marathon. This journey to again race the 26.2-mile distance started last October when I moved to the island of Oahu. There I met an amazing group of marathon maniacs. While their savage behavior and craving for up to 10 marathons a year didn't rub off immediately, I knew I wanted to race the distance once again. When I moved to Kansas City, I found more running groups with runners who had their hopes set on the marathon.

My first three marathons didn't go as I had hoped. In each I fell apart in the ladder stages of the race and my time suffered. After the 2004 Chicago Marathon, I stepped back and just ran shorter races.

For the past year, I've maintained 30-50 mile weeks. I improved my diet. I lifted more weights than I ever have. And I maintained interval training and ran the long runs.

And so the goal: to run 3:25, nearly 20 minutes faster than my PR of 3:42.

Island jumping

Here are some photos from Hawaii:

Na Pali Coast in Kauai: http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2277567&l=d8f77&id=2311281

Volcanoes National Park on Big Island: http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2277565&l=f779a&id=2311281

Akaka Falls on Big Island: http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2277564&l=47b3f&id=2311281

More Oahu: http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2277563&l=a2bfd&id=2311281

Haleakala on Maui: http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2267853&l=256a8&id=2311281

My House:
http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2267866&l=ebba2&id=2311281

Mokuluka Islands:
http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2269700&l=65541&id=2311281

First couple weeks in Hawaii:
http://msu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2165222&l=bc572&id=2311281

I just called to say....

 
Susie! Answer!

The fork in our road

 
The trail

The crew

 
This is us before the hike.

Haleakala National Park

 

This weekend I joined Renee and Sean in Maui to hike and camp at Haleakala National Park. We cruised up the volcano crater, nearly 10,000 feet above sea level with our packs strapped to back. At the summit, where the thick clouds lingered around the crater, we could see for miles. Barren volcanic dust, lush green valleys, the bluest of skies and desert tundra - all in the same place. Horay bats kept us awake at night. We hiked for seven miles on Saturday, camped and then continued up the mountain. After our nearly 3,000-foot climb, we headed to the beach.

Where am I?

 

If you have failed in your attempt to contact me, don't worry. My phone has been turned off/not working. This is due to the unfriendly fellows who shattered my car window, stole my wallet and cell phone. I'll be back soon. Until then I can be contacted at charlton.brian@gmail.com

My daring rope swing jump

It goes by quick so watch closely. I swing over the slippery rocks, and into the freezing mountain water. What a rush!

Check out Web album from hike

 

Peekabo! I put up a Web album after I hiked, along with Randy and Kiff, the Jackass Ginger trail. This short valley loop wandered through the thick Nuuanu forest and eventually passed one of the coolest swimholes on Oahu: Jackass Ginger. We passed stands of swamp mahogany, bamboo, and guava and later climbed the beautiful Nuuanu Trail. At the waterfall, we dared to swing from the rope, over the slippery rocks (I know cause I fell) and into the freezing cold mountain water. So CLICK HERE

My work uniform

 

On a reporting trip to Kauai to cover the fallout of a tour helicopter crash, I stopped at a scenic point overlooking the rush green mountains and Hawaiian fishing pools. This island is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. The white sandy shores, majestic waterfalls, endless mountains and low-key lifestyle made for a long day of work.

Kona sunset

 

From the shores of Kona, the sun dips into the ocean each night. Pure beauty.