Sweet Home Alabama!

Hello Ladies and Gent's!

My trip to Alabama was awesome! My brother and I decided to drive from Missouri and spend some quality brother time. It's not everyday you drive through Green Frog, TN and experience getting stopped by an Alabama policeman. Ouch! Fortunately we were told just to slow down a bit and we escaped getting an out-of-state ticket. Whew!

Hows this for some positive mojo...not only did we get out of a ticket, the run was on Valentines Day! February 14th right? The hotel room we stayed in was number 214 and my split time on the half marathon was....you guess it; 2:14. I had the best marathon time that I ever had scoring a new PR of 4:42! It was very surreal. Never used that word before, but now I think it is appropriate. I was starting the race and "Sweet Home Alabama" was playing on my iPod. I couldn't of written the script any better.

I am off to Albany, GA this weekend with my brother Kyle. Wish me luck as I prepare to complete my 18th marathon in my 17th state! Got some new sneaks and I am very excited to see if they make me any faster!

Keep running and keep smiling!

Catch me if you can!
KB

What makes you do the things you do?!?!?!

Hello Folks,

What makes you smile? What makes you walk faster some days compared to others? What makes you put your hands over your head when you dance? What makes you hold the door open for a complete stranger? What makes you get out of bed early for no reason other than to get the most out of your day? What makes you want to do a cannon ball when you first get to the swimming pool! What makes you want to say; "Will you marry me?" We all have passion, some of us wear it on our sleeve, some of us are afraid to show it and some of us just keep it suppressed and are afraid to let it come out. Live your life with passion!!!! We all are getting older and one day the man upstairs will call us to be with him. We don't know when that day is so we must live the life we want and get the most out of it!!! Don't be afraid to go after what you want; you just might surprise yourself. Be true to yourself and be true to others and I am confident you will live a fruitful life!


I ran 11 miles this morning. I am not a fast runner and I averaged a 10 minute mile for 11 miles. I felt good about my run. I ate a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and ended up eating 2 powergel packs to keep my blood sugar up to where I needed it to be. I finish my run with a 148 blood sugar! That was just super-fantastic for me!! When I got back to my house both of my kids were still sleeping. I ate some yogurt and a granola bar and took a shower and got ready for church. Yes, my kids were still sleeping.... I just have to smile because I remember the days when I was young and could sleep until 11 o'clock am. Soon will be the day when I recruit my daughter to run with me. For now, I will let her sleep and grow....

I just made my reservation last week for my upcoming run in Idaho. The race will take place in a small town called Ashton. The only place left to stay was a cabin at the Squirrel Creek Inn! STOP THE MADNESS!!! I asked if there was air conditioning and the answer was no. They did tell me that I could open the windows for some fresh air. :) I found another hotel about 15 minutes away that has a little more modern day conveniences. Trust me when I say I can rough it with the best of them but when I am needing my rest before and after a marathon, I will take all the luxury I can get!!! I know there are some fancy people out there that would concur that the Squirrel Creek Inn would not cut the mustard for a pre-race snooze! There will only be about 500 runners for this race. I love the small races. You get to know so many people who are there just to soak it all in. This will be a dramatic difference when I run Chicago in October with 40,000 people. Simply Amazing!

Enjoy today and look forward to tomorrow. If you love someone don't forget to tell them TODAY! Tomorrow is not soon enough and will be another opportunity to tell them AGAIN!!!

Put your hands in the air when you dance the next time. You may ask why, but it will make you smile!!!

Go make a difference in your life...You will be surprised how many people will benefit along the way!

Come run with me,
KB

Did you let out the Monster today?!!!

Hello AMERICA!

I have dove back into my training and have only 5 weeks before the Mesa Falls Marathon in Ashton, IA. I have never done two marathons this close together so I am anxious to see how my body will perform! This past Sunday I ran Missoula, MT and by Wednesday this week I started out with 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer and 30 minutes of weight lifting. Today I put in a 3 mile run. I truly miss when I go several days without running. Exercise in general for most people gives us a great feeling of accomplishment and provides us with some extra energy along the way. My kids have a saying that they use when I run marathon's. They tell me when I get close to the finish line that I should, "Let the Monster out." They have seen me grit my teeth, clutch my fist and turn up the speed when I get close to the finish. They say I look like a monster coming across the finish line. The "letting out the monster" gives me that extra boost sometimes I need to cross the finish and perhaps pass a few runners who I have been behind the whole race! Everyday we get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, go to our jobs, come home, eat dinner, go to bed. I don't want to sound mundane, but we can let life become that way if we don't go after what we want ever day with passion and zest!!! My brother says to do something everyday that scares you. You know you are being challenged and taking risk if you do things that scare you. This is also how I found to build character and gain experience. If you do something you are scared to do, but you do it anyway and accomplish the tasks successfully; you have gain experience and more often then not, some character along the way. Make sure you are getting the most out of every day! The compilation of all the days end up to be....guess what? Your life!!! Get the most out of it!! Make sure sometime during the day you "Let out the Monster!" You want to get the most out of your day and certainly in the end the most out of your life!!!!

Love, trust, forgive and live!!!

KB

A Little Each Day! Life is truly a Marathon!!!

Hello Folks,

I am getting ready to run the Montana Marathon in less than 6 weeks. Today I ran 5miles and I have a few more small runs this week and a whopping 20 miler this weekend! A long time ago a friend told me that life is a marathon. I didn't know quite what it meant because maybe I was to young to understand. Everyday we are faced with challenges and opportunities. To give that extra smile, to make that extra phone call, spend that extra 15 minutes with our children and to make that extra sales call that will propel us ahead of the pack. We certainly can't do everything we want in one day. Even though we have great intentions, we cannot do all the goodness we want to do in one day. We cannot kiss our children as much as we want in one day and we cannot sell as much as we want in a lifetime in one day. Life is a marathon. We must do the necessary things every single day and then choose to do a little extra every day to make us feel good about what we have accomplished. Don't try to do it all in one day, but keep putting one foot in front of the other day after day and at the end of your life you will have run that incredible marathon called "your life".

My grandmother is turning 90 years old this weekend. She is one of the sharpest, funniest, kindest, religious and energetic people I know. She also in my opinion makes the world best red velvet cake!!! She drives her car to church, bingo, quilting and visits many friends and relatives. She once told me it is sad to see all your friends pass and sometime she wonders why she has been so lucky to live so long. She is a great person and has lived a good life and cares about people more than anyone I know. It is Gods blessing to the world to keep my grandma here for us all to learn from. My grandma has run a great life long marathon. She has figured it out more than most. It's not what you do just in one day, it is a compilation of the good things that you do each and everyday. Happy 90th Birthday Grandma! You are our hero! There isn't a medal for grandma's but my Grandma Arnold sure deserves one!!!

Run your life marathon! Make each step count and never give up!!!

Kurt

Resting for the next challenge!

Hello Everyone,

Four days post marathon and my legs are getting back to normal. It's amazing when you run 26 miles vs 20 miles the tole it takes on your body. Completely different. I guess that's why people hit the wall sometimes at mile 20. The additional 6 miles is a journey in and of itself. I have been doing my part in replentishing my body with some complex carbs such as potatoes and different energy drinks and energy bars. I have also managed to slip in a little ice cream! :)

My next marathon will be in Missoula Montana on July 12, 2009. I am really looking forward to this marathon because it is in such a beautiful part of the country. Perhaps I may be able to get in a little fly fishing while I am there. Experiencing different parts of the country and the people has been one of the exciting things about this 50 states journey. I am thrilled that I have many more places and people yet to experience.

I have been using Hal Higdon's Marathon Training Guide to train for each marathon. When I do multiple marathones I typically take a week to two off from running and do some weight training. I then start the 18 week marathon training schedule wherever I need to be to be on target with the program to finish it by the time of the marathon. I use the Intermediate 1 program and have been successful with doing the two 20 mile long runs in this program. The weekly mileage is certainly manageable with any job and the long runs just take some time management and some getting use to.

I have changed my philosphy for running. Instead of telling everyone I "have to run" xx miles everyday; I now say I "get to run" xx miles today. Not everyone can run. Some people are physically not capable. I am priviledged I have been given this gift and this ability. Thank God for this gift!!!

If you want to run faster, you need to run faster!!!

Have a superfantastic day!!!

Kurt

Welcome to the Kurt Bauman Blog!

In July of 2002, I had the shock of a lifetime. At the age of 35 I learned that I had Type 1 Diabetes and would face a regimen of blood testing and insulin injections for the rest of my life. The diagnosis changed me... I wondered what my life would be like with this chronic disease and what my limitations as a diabetic truly were.

I was never an avid athlete or runner. In fact, I had run one marathon in 1997 and vowed to never do it again - the experience was simply too difficult to face a second time. In a spontaneous effort to push back at my diagnosis, I entered my name in the lottery for the New York City marathon and (surprisingly enough) received a bib number. After 18 weeks of rigorous training, I ran the marathon with an insulin pump and food reserves, checking my blood sugar every 5 miles.

The accomplishment I felt as I crossed the finish line was incredible! In that moment my mission was born. I wanted diabetics everywhere to find the strength to rise above their illness and lead happy, healthy, active lives. I wanted to motivate people facing challenges to overcome adversity and live their dreams.

So, I have committed to running 50 marathons in all 50 United States. So far, I've completed marathons in six states - New York, Minnesota, Missouri, Arizona, Colorado and Tennessee. In 2009 I'm already scheduled to run in Arkansas, Montana and Illinois.

I know that this quest won't be accomplished overnight. My plan is to run a marathon every quarter until I finish all 50 races. I'm well aware that it will take me 10 years and many tens of thousands of dollars to accomplish my goal. In the meantime, I am a professional motivational speaker and look for any opportunity to share my story with audiences nationwide. My message is threefold:

1. To increase awareness of Diabetes and reach out to the 6 million Americans who unknowingly suffer with this disease without treatment,
2. To inspire others to push past their fears and strive to accomplish their goals,
3. To prevent Type 2 Diabetes and other chronic illnesses by encouraging people to be the cure through diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

I hope that you will follow my blog and join me on my amazing journey. Whatever you face in life, I hope that you will find the strength and power and overcome obstacles and be proactive in changing the world for the better.