Dub-C 4 miler

Juneathon 11 - Day #10

Dub-C 4 miler in downtown West Chester - 7pm start

It was a hot one, even for an evening start.  Certainly not my best run.  I got cramped up 1/2 way through and had to walk for 3 minutes.  Still, a good time as always.  Joined again by my good friend Chris Felix.

start

its blurry, but yes, that is a chicken

this was kinda nice to run through

Mr. Felix and I

race shirt

race number

Juneathon 11 - Day #9

Juneathon 11 - Day #9
a nice easy run around Westtown Lake

I wanted to take a day off from running, but needed to at least do something today.  The run around Westtown Lake is probably a little more than a 1/2 mile or so (mostly trail).  I had run here several times over the winter, so it was different this time around in the spring with the sun out. 

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Today's movie recommendation

Dan in Real Life

Widowed now for four years, Dan Burns is a lonely man. An advice columnist for the New Jersey Standard, he could use some advice himself, not only in making himself happier, but on how to deal with his three daughters of whom he is overly protective. They are heading to Rhode Island for their annual visit with Dan's parents, his several siblings and their respective families at the family home. There, Dan meets a woman named Marie at a local bookstore. They spend a memorable afternoon chatting with each other, although she is up front about not being able to take things further with him because she is in a relationship. It isn't until later that Dan learns that that relationship is with his womanizing brother Mitch, who seems to love her, and that Marie has been invited to the family gathering. The more time that Dan spends with Marie that weekend, the more he realizes that she could be the one for him. Because of his feelings, he acts a little unusually, which the rest of the family notices. But as the weekend progresses, Marie also gets to know Dan and the entire Burns family better. She learns some information which makes her realize her true feelings. If those feelings are for Dan, he isn't sure if he could ever hurt his brother by falling for the first supposed love of his life.

Great performance by Steve Carrell, and a suprisingly great performance by Dane Cook.  Good casting. 

This below picture is my favorite picture.  This is why I am so glad I don't have daughters. 

My favorite part of the movie is a duet with Steve Carrell and Dane Cook singing "Let My Love Open the Door" by Pete Townsend.  By fare the best part of the movie.



Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Juenathon 11 - Day #8

Juneathon 11 - Day #8

Started off the morning with an easy 2 mile run at Rustin High School.  Afternoon run was at the beautiful Glen Mills School.  This is the most gorgeous campus in all of Chester County, PA.  Scenery is breathtaking!  Can't do 30 different locations without hitting up Glen Mills.

4 miles total for the day.


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movie recommendation:

The Boondock Saints.

Connor: Now you will receive us.
Murphy: We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry.
Connor: We do not want your tired and sick.
Murphy: It is your corrupt we claim.
Connor: It is your evil that will be sought by us.
Murphy: With every breath we shall hunt them down.
Connor: Each day, we will spill their blood till it rains down from the skies.
Murphy: Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal, these are principles which every man of every faith can embrace.
Connor: These are not polite suggestions, these are codes of behavior and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost.
Murphy: There are varying degrees of evil, we urge you lesser forms of filth not to push the bounds and cross over, into true corruption, into our domain.
Connor: For if you do, one day you will look behind you and you will see we three. And on that day, you will reap it.
Murphy: And we will send you to whatever god you wish.

This movie is an instant cult classic.  It is very similar to Death Wish, only awesomer.  Great action, great one liners, a whacky perfomrance by Willem Dafoe, a cameo from Ron Jeremy as a mob underboss (yes, you read that correctly, Ron Jeremy)....and you will never look at Billy Connolly again the same.

yes, that is Billy Connolly

Juneathon 11 - Day #7

Juneathon 11 - Day #7

3 mile run on the track at Cheyney University.  The University is only a few miles from my house, so I figured I would go over and run on the track around the football field.  I listed to a live Paul McCartney concert, which was good to listen to.  3 miles equals 12 laps.  Hey Jude ate up 3 of the laps, and nobody was around so I got to sing it aloud.  Also, decided to do an evening run (which I haven't done in awhile). 

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Cheyney University was the college that the late great former Philadelphia Eagle Andre Waters played at. 

In 1984, Waters was signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia Eagles head coach Marion Campbell. He returned a kickoff for an 89-yard game-winning touchdown against the Washington Redskins as a rookie in 1984. When Buddy Ryan took over for Campbell in 1986, he welcomed Waters' aggressive style as a fierce tackler and ferocious hitter, earning Waters a position in the starting lineup for the next eight years. He blossomed under defensive coordinator Bud Carson. His tackle of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett in 1988 led to a rule prohibiting defensive players from hitting quarterbacks below the waist while they are still in the pocket; for a while, it was unofficially termed the "Andre Waters Rule". NFL broadcaster Dan Dierdorf notoriously nicknamed the Eagles defender "Dirty Waters". He scored a touchdown in 1989 when he took a lateral from William Frizzell after Reggie White caused a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

Waters served as part of the Eagles' defensive unit that was regarded as one of the league's best, in 1991 ranking first statistically in both run and pass defense, as well as total defense. His hard-hitting style translated into leading the team in tackles for four seasons and endeared him with Philadelphia fans but often led to penalties and fines for some of his tackles. He led the Eagles in tackles in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1991. He recorded 15 interceptions in 156 games.

Waters committed suicide shortly after 1 a.m. on November 20, 2006, according to the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office, dying of a gunshot to the head.  Dr. Omalu determined that Waters' brain tissue had degenerated into that of an 85-year-old man with similar characteristics to those of early-stage Alzheimer's victims. Omalu said he believed that the damage was caused and/or hastened by the numerous concussions Waters sustained playing football. Additionally, Omalu said that Waters would have been fully incapacitated within ten years.

Its almost been 5 years since Waters took his life.  It is believed that he took his life because he found out about his condition and didn't want to live a suffering life that he was going to have to endure for the next ten years.  The NFL is now starting to study brain injuries from retired NFL players.  Its a shame it took something like this to bring it to their attention. 

Waters was certainly fun to watch, and one of my favorite Eagles of all-time.



Juenathon 11 - Day #6

Juneathon 11 - Day #6

Oakbourne Park (pics to follow)



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Todays movie recommendation:

Boston bank robber Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) falls for a woman his gang had previously taken hostage after feigning a chance meeting with her to ensure that she can't identify them in Affleck's adaptation of author Chuck Hogan's novel Prince of Thieves. The son of a tough Charlestown, MA thief, Doug passed on his chance to walk the straight and narrow in favor of becoming a career bank robber. Not only is Doug's crew one of the most ruthless in Boston, but they're also one of the best; they never leave a trace of evidence, and always make a clean break. Over the years, Doug's fearless partners in crime have become something of a surrogate family to him; Jem (Jeremy Renner), the most dangerous of the bunch, is the closest thing Doug has ever had to a brother. But a divide begins to open between the two career criminals when Jem takes bank manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) hostage during a particularly tense heist, and the group subsequently discovers that she hails from their own tight-knit suburb. When Jem proposes that the gang make an effort to find out just how much Claire recalls about the crime, Doug fears that his volatile partner may do more harm than good and volunteers himself for the job. Later, Doug turns on the charm while pretending to bump into Claire by chance, and becomes convinced that she doesn't suspect him of being the same man who just robbed her bank. As the feds turn up the heat on the gang, Doug finds himself falling for Claire, and searching desperately for a means of cutting his ties to his criminal past. But with each passing day, Jem grows increasingly suspicious of Doug's true motivations. Now caught between two worlds with no chance of turning back, Doug realizes that his only hope for finding a happy future is to betray the only family he's ever known

I always thought Ben Affleck was a decent actor.  Not saying he is DiCaprio or Bale, but a decent actor with a fine career.  10 years ago, he became a huge celebrity, but then people got tired of hearing about him and Jennifer Lopez, and he had a couple bad movies, and everyone kind of wrote him off.  That always made me sad, cause I thought he was a likable actor.

Well, he directed and starred in this flick, and it was fantastic.  Reminded me a lot of the movie HEAT.  The story was an original concept, which is hard to come across these days. 

Coming off "The Hurt Locker" was Jeremy Renner.  He was nominated in this role as well (best supporting).  It was a good character, and I thought Renner nailed it. 

and of course, this was the last movie for Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father, The Usual Suspects).  Interesting role in this flick, and a good one to go out on.

Loved the ending of this movie.  Well done, Mr. Affleck.  With this movie and Gone Baby Gone, Affleck needs to be taken seriously as a director.  Who knew?