2020 Highlights

Many will tell you that 2020 has sucked. Thinking of life from a community/worldwide perspective, 2020 has been very challenging on a number of different levels. But I think a good amount of people who say this, while true that things have been taken away from them, perhaps they have not had as difficult a time compared to many others.

I am thinking of those who lost a family member to the virus or the parent who lost their job and could not find a new one, struggling to make ends meet. I also think of people with mental health or substance abuse challenges who found themselves isolated from others.

We hear that over 300,000 have died from the virus and struggle to comprehend the suffering for those families and friends of the loved ones who passed, not to mention the thousands who got really sick and perhaps have lingering symptoms.

Perspective is so important and while the restrictions have been frustrating, I recognize I have been lucky and blessed in many ways.

Each year I like to list the highlights and this one is no different.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020:

• Marrying Veronica (Wheeler) Schlegel at a beautiful ceremony followed by a fun mini reception
• Graduating with my M.Ed. from Eastern University
• Finishing my job with Eastern’s CSP program. While I am sad to leave, I love the community that we developed over my two years
• Landing my first professional school counselor job in a tough market
• Moving into a new home with Veronica and getting to live together for the first time
• Getting to run in several exciting races, including a (very hot) half marathon
• Lots of fun Zooms with friends and family, making the most of the situation
• Going on a camping trip/bachelor party with my groomsmen
• Fun trips to Dining Under the Stars, both with my family and friends
• Logging over 1700 miles running during the calendar year

I am very grateful for the people in my life, my health, and the opportunities I have. Positive psychology stresses the importance of focusing on our strengths and what we are grateful for, in the face of suffering.

NBA Predictions

The NBA is probably my favorite sport to follow, just ahead of soccer and distance running.

The league did an amazing job pulling off the bubble experience during COVID, and believe it or not, the regular season begins tomorrow night. I feel like last season just ended a month ago, so any teams who made it late in the playoffs really have not had a long offseason at all, while teams who did not make the playoffs had a long time to recover and prepare for the upcoming year.

I love making predictions and usually find myself way off with a couple picks, but the surprise choices make it much more fun. Per usual, the Western Conference was very challenging to select the order. I think 12 teams in the West have a realistic chance at the playoffs.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1. Bucks– Coach Budenholtzer owns the regular season and Giannis will be highly motivated.
2. Nets- The team everyone will be watching. If Durant stays healthy, they will be great.
3. Sixers– So excited to see the new lineup playing together and a revitalized Embiid.
4. Heat– The team chemistry is unreal and they will be legitimate contenders.
5. Celtics– Tatum and Brown are two amazing young players. Tristan Thompson will help.
6. Raptors– Keeping VanVleet was huge. Losing Ibaka and Gasol will hurt their chances.
7. Pacers– Sabonis is one of the best big men and Oladipo should bounce back better.
8. Hawks– An exciting young team led by Young. Look for Galinari and Bogdanovic to help with scoring.
9. Wizards– Westbrook gets a lot of criticism, but he is All-Star caliber, making the backcourt with Beal dangerous.
10. Magic– Losing DJ Augustine will hurt, but Vucevic is one of the most solid big men in the league and they are just such a prototypical average team.
11. Pistons– How can you not be excited for Rose and Griffin? Just hoping they stay healthy.
12. Bulls– Billy Donovan proved to be a great coach for the Thunder, so expect the Bulls to be okay.
13. Hornets– Cheering for Gordan Hayward, but I can’t see this team being very good.
14. Knicks– Not last in the conference? Hopefully for their sake.
15. Cavs– Not looking too good for these guys. Please trade Kevin Love so he can compete on a winning team again.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Lakers- Lebron and AD with a bolstered bench unit? Look out, NBA.
2. Trail Blazers– I love this pick, knowing it could go south quickly. But they made some great pick-ups in Covington and Jones and I think Lillard wants to dominate badly.
3. Nuggets– Murray and Jokic, baby.
4. Clippers– Paul George has to do a lot to earn all the money they are paying him. Leonard can win your team games basically by himself, but this team chemistry feels really iffy to me.
5. Mavericks– Doncic will be competing for MVP and this team is ready to roll.
6. Suns– I love the Chris Paul pick-up and I hope this team continues their streak from the bubble where they did not lose a game (but still did not make the playoffs).
7. Jazz– Mitchell can score in bunches and they will have Bogdonavic back in action. Gobert got paid big time.
8. Pelicans– This team could finish as low as 13th, but their ceiling is so high with Williamson and Ingram. I believe Stan Van Gundy can get these guys in the playoffs.
9. Rockets– If they trade Harden, then who knows. This team could also finish second in the conference if everything clicks for them.
10. Grizzlies– Morant and Jackson Jr. are great building blocks for a tough team.
11. Spurs– Ah, I want to see Popovich back in the playoffs, but the West may be too difficult.
12. Warriors– This team could definitely prove me wrong primarily thanks to Curry, but I don’t see it happening without Klay Thompson. I could also see Curry getting hurt and the team falling off halfway through the year.
13. Kings– The West is just too tough. I could see the Kings fighting for a playoff spot in the East.
14. Timberwolves– Sorry Towns and Russell, you guys will have to wait at least another year.
15. Thunder- A young team and I am cheering for Horford to get back to his old self.

League MVP: Luka Doncic

ALL-NBA First Team: Doncic, Lillard, Lebron, Giannis, Davis

Finals Match-Up: Lakers vs. Sixers

Champions: Lakers in 6

The Marathon Project Predictions

Tomorrow morning in Chandler, Arizona, around 50 elite men and 50 elite women will race a marathon on a 4.3 mile loop.

The race website (below) can explain all the deits you may want, but I am here to offer some predictions on the top 10 from the men and women.

Race Details

If you know running, you know.

Top 10 Men:

1. Marty Hehir– Philly med student with 2 infants who is ready to drop the hammer.
2. Cj Albertston– A unique runner with the 50k national record and a 2:09 treadmill marathon.
3. Scott Fauble– A burrito-eating monster who is ready for another big race.
4. Cam Levins– The Canadian marathon-record holder with big mileage training.
5. Noah Droddy– An easy-going, long-haired, fast competitor who is very fit.
6. Jared Ward– 6th place at the Rio Olympics Marathon and well liked by all.
7. Shadrack Biwott– Very high place finishes at big marathons and now ready for a top time.
8. John Raneri– Mcirdy Trained and ready for a huge marathon PR.
9. Colin Bennie– Trains with Hehir and a big surprise at the Trials in February.
10. Scott Smith– From NAZ Elite- I really like his personality and want to see him do well.

Winning Men’s Time: 2:08:37

I am going to guess that over 75% of the field will PR.

Top 10 Women:

1. Kellyn Taylor– One of my favorite runners from NAZ Elite. So tough and coming off a fast 10k.
2. Sara Hall– Recently ran 2:22 in London and apparently crazy fit. The favorite to win this race.
3. Stephanie Bruce– Also from NAZ Elite and known for her grit. I think the top three will be together into the final miles of the race, unless Hall runs away from the start and holds it all the way.
4. Kiera D’Amato– Running some crazy fast PRs in 2020 and ready to finish the year strong.
5. Emma Bates– A very talented distance runner with a chance to compete for the win.
6. Ursula Garcia– From Mexico and coming off a strong World Half Marathon Championships.
7. Sarah Inglis– A track-star from the UK ready to debut a strong marathon.
8. Diane Nukuri- Representing ASICS with a solid PR of 2:27 and looking to improve on that.
9. Julia Kohnen– 10th place at the trials and now training under Rosario at NAZ Elite.
10. Kinsey Middleton– Giving a Canadian the nod to crack the top ten.

Winning Women’s Time: 2:21:31

LET’S GO!!

The Amazing Theragun

Back when my wife (still getting used to wife instead of fiancée!) and I set our gift registry, we mostly selected items that were useful and practical, like kitchen appliances and a tool kit.

But there was one item that stood out among the rest.

The handheld theragun.

If you are like my wife, you are probably thinking what the heck? Especially when you see the price tag. We did not think anyone would actually get it, but I secretly held on to a small hope.

Lo and behold, some of my family members in England pulled through big time.

My wife was partly aghast, but I was excited as anything.

I don’t think my wife would want to admit it, but we actually use the device all the time. I find the theragun relaxing, but I also use it for recovery after runs and sometimes for activation before a workout.

The force behind the little thing is incredibly powerful and I can see why professional athletes use it all the time.

What would I score the theragun? Probably an 8.5 out of 10.

Some would say the cost is too high, but if you use it as much as we do, so far I can say we’re making good use and justifying the investment from my family.