Comments on: TnT #23: The unexpected pre-Half half http://thefinitemonkey.com/2007/03/tnt-23-the-unexpected-pre-half-half/ If infinite monkeys could recreate Shakespeare, what could one do? Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:56:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: TFM http://thefinitemonkey.com/2007/03/tnt-23-the-unexpected-pre-half-half/comment-page-1/#comment-3208 TFM Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:14:09 +0000 http://thefinitemonkey.com/2007/03/26/tnt-23-the-unexpected-pre-half-half/#comment-3208 <p>It's so good to hear from you! For anyone else reading...the Hunters lived two houses down from me when I was growing up and were my favorite neighbors. Mr. & Mrs. Hunter (who I can never call by their first names even if they invite me to because it wouldn't feel right) were always great to me. They have a son several years older than me who I idolized growing up, and a daughter younger than me who I babysat sometimes.</p> <p>Growing up as the smallest kid in my class all the time, and possessing no better than average athletic talent, I was sort of cursed with a love of sports but not much natural ability in them. (That hasn't changed much.) I had a father who loved me, but he wasn't an athlete, either, so when my love of sports needed nurturing or development, Mr. Hunter was always there for me growing up. He was my first coach, and even though I never called him "Coach", he was more of a coach to me than my youth soccer coaches who consistently gave me the minimum amount of playing time allowed by league rules. I remember him going to see my games (Mrs. Hunter went, too), taking me fishing, teaching me how to sprint better for an upcoming PE test, and even coming out to see me play hockey after I started playing in my late 20's. The <i>only</i> time I can ever remember going out for a run before I started running a couple years ago was a few times as a kid when Mr. & Mrs. Hunter let me tag along when they went out jogging. Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Hunter, for all that.</p> <p>I don't know what kind of shape you're in these days, Mr. Hunter, but that marathon goal may not be out of reach. I've talked with Team in Training teammates who have teammates 70 or older training for and completing marathons, including people who were doing it for the first time. There are also half-marathon options, which are still a pretty big accomplishment. I would definitely suggest clearing it with your doctor and finding a way to train with coaching and supervision (like participating with Team in Training), but when I picture those 70+ folks that I've heard about doing marathons, I picture someone like Mr. Hunter.</p> It’s so good to hear from you! For anyone else reading…the Hunters lived two houses down from me when I was growing up and were my favorite neighbors. Mr. & Mrs. Hunter (who I can never call by their first names even if they invite me to because it wouldn’t feel right) were always great to me. They have a son several years older than me who I idolized growing up, and a daughter younger than me who I babysat sometimes.

Growing up as the smallest kid in my class all the time, and possessing no better than average athletic talent, I was sort of cursed with a love of sports but not much natural ability in them. (That hasn’t changed much.) I had a father who loved me, but he wasn’t an athlete, either, so when my love of sports needed nurturing or development, Mr. Hunter was always there for me growing up. He was my first coach, and even though I never called him “Coach”, he was more of a coach to me than my youth soccer coaches who consistently gave me the minimum amount of playing time allowed by league rules. I remember him going to see my games (Mrs. Hunter went, too), taking me fishing, teaching me how to sprint better for an upcoming PE test, and even coming out to see me play hockey after I started playing in my late 20′s. The only time I can ever remember going out for a run before I started running a couple years ago was a few times as a kid when Mr. & Mrs. Hunter let me tag along when they went out jogging. Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Hunter, for all that.

I don’t know what kind of shape you’re in these days, Mr. Hunter, but that marathon goal may not be out of reach. I’ve talked with Team in Training teammates who have teammates 70 or older training for and completing marathons, including people who were doing it for the first time. There are also half-marathon options, which are still a pretty big accomplishment. I would definitely suggest clearing it with your doctor and finding a way to train with coaching and supervision (like participating with Team in Training), but when I picture those 70+ folks that I’ve heard about doing marathons, I picture someone like Mr. Hunter.

]]> By: Fred & Pat Hunter http://thefinitemonkey.com/2007/03/tnt-23-the-unexpected-pre-half-half/comment-page-1/#comment-3156 Fred & Pat Hunter Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:22:24 +0000 http://thefinitemonkey.com/2007/03/26/tnt-23-the-unexpected-pre-half-half/#comment-3156 <p>Hi Mark Was good to hear from you. My brother Mike lived in Simi Valley, so I know the area well. I've heard this somewhere, "the check is in the mail". I applaud your endeavor. I had three goals myself when I was a kid. 1. To pitch a no-hitter, 2. Get a hole in one, and 3. complete a marathon. I've reached two of the three. The marathon has yet to be run. This October I will hit 70, so this goal will probably go unaccomplished. But I can always say I know a guy, a former neighbor, who has run one. Good Luck Mark.</p> Hi Mark Was good to hear from you. My brother Mike lived in Simi Valley, so I know the area well. I’ve heard this somewhere, “the check is in the mail”. I applaud your endeavor. I had three goals myself when I was a kid. 1. To pitch a no-hitter, 2. Get a hole in one, and 3. complete a marathon. I’ve reached two of the three. The marathon has yet to be run. This October I will hit 70, so this goal will probably go unaccomplished. But I can always say I know a guy, a former neighbor, who has run one. Good Luck Mark.

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