Die Macht » game swung back in Hulls favor when Adama Diom

SAN DIEGO -- On Sunday morning, Sept. 11, George Chmiel will be surrounded by well-wishers on the deck of the decommissioned aircraft carrier Midway. There will be music, a few guest speakers and plenty of pomp for a grand sendoff.Then Chmiel will run through a special arch, down the ships ladders and out to the streets, escorted by police and followed by a thundering herd of supportive runners as he makes his way east, toward Arizona.Slowly, the runners will peel off. The herd will disappear.Theres going to be a moment when I look around, and Im going to be in the desert like, What did I get myself into? he said, laughing.Chmiel, 35, is used to pushing himself to extremes. Hes an experienced ultrarunner who has completed grueling, multiday races through the remote, inhospitable wilds of the Sahara, Antarctica and Australia. Hes used to fighting through pain and tapping into reserves of resolve. He recalls being terrified while running alone at night through the Aussie Outback, scared to death of snakes and the crocodile-infested river hed have to cross.My heart rate was jacked, he said. It kept me running faster.But when Chmiel (pronounced shimmel) steps off the Midway, it will be the start of a much bigger challenge: a 3,031-mile run from San Diego to New York City, where he plans to arrive Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Thats an average of more than 50 miles a day for 60 days. Its a physical, mental and logistical challenge unlike any he has done before.Its 120 marathons in two months, he said. Its 5 million steps.The reason hes doing it is to draw attention to the needs of military veterans and to raise funds for the Guardian For Heroes Foundation, which Chris Kyle, the late Navy SEAL of American Sniper fame, helped set up.While many others have run across the continent, Chmiel is doing it in a very public way, with fundraising fun runs, concerts and events scheduled along the route. He wants people to know hes coming as he chugs through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (including Kyles hometown of Midlothian), then through Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with a finish at Ground Zero in Manhattan.His goal is to raise at least $1 million. Its not that hes a veteran or from a military family or has lost a friend in Iraq or Afghanistan. He has simply read about how hard it is for veterans to adjust back to civilian life. He decided to help by raising money for the foundation, which helps combat veterans cope and thrive through fitness programs and life coaching.He hopes its one small way a divided America can come together.You want a shining example for all of us to get behind, its our vets, he said. I dont think it can be solved at the government or military level. I think us civilians can do more. Thats what this is.Going coast to coastRunning across America isnt new, and its become increasingly more common the past decade. Some of the action from just this year:On Aug. 20, 93-year-old Ernie Andrus, a World War II vet, successfully completed his almost three-year quest to run from San Diego to an island off the coast of southern Georgia.On Sept. 12, Pete Kostelnick, a two-time champion of the 135-mile Badwater ultramarathon in Death Valley, California, will begin his mission to run from San Francisco to New York to break the fastest known crossing time of 46 days, set in 1980.Ultrarunner Adam Kimble set out from Huntington Beach, California, on Feb. 15 to break that mark but was slowed by injury. Still, he crossed the U.S. in 60 days. A British runner also going after the mark, and accused by some of cheating, eventually quit because of an injury.After starting on April 18, Jeremy Bradford ran from Los Angeles to New York, accompanied by his family in an RV, in 59 days, 10 hours, 4 minutes.As the sport of ultrarunning has expanded -- the number of races longer than a marathon tripled from 2004 to 2014, according to Ultrarunning magazine -- so, too, has the desire to run coast to coast.In 2002, Jim McCord of Cincinnati was the only person to run across the U.S., doing it to get attention and funding for diabetes research. Since then, he has kept track of cross-country attempts on his USA Crossers Facebook page.He says about 300 runners have crossed the continent since the first known completion in 1909. Between 10 and 30 people per year now attempt it, he says, with a success rate of about 75 percent. Many, like Chmiel, run for a cause.It took McCord 180 days, with two breaks, to do it.These guys are doing 50, 60 and 70 miles a day, he said. I dont know how they do it. Its mind-boggling.The accidental runnerChmiel grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, playing football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and hockey. He never ran track, and never ran at all if he didnt have to. But after graduating from Boston College and going to work on Wall Street, he found running as a way to feed his competitive streak. He bypassed 5Ks and 10Ks for a full marathon as his first race, and he was such a novice he grabbed and ate Vaseline packs from the aid stations, thinking they were gels.When his goddaughter Luci was afflicted with a rare birth-related disorder, a non-functioning pituitary gland, he decided to run marathons and eventually ultras to raise money for the Magic Foundation, which helps children overcome a variety of problems related to growth and health.When he saw a video about a year ago with actor Dean Cain taking part in a fundraising effort for the Guardian For Heroes Foundation, through its BeastMode for the Brave Challenge, Chmiel contacted the organization and offered to run across America to help them.Charla Heimer, a friend and fellow ultrarunner, ran the multiday race with Chmiel in Australia in 2010. She has seen how he doesnt quit, not even after getting heat stroke on the first day, and is confident hell complete the upcoming challenge.Because hes doing it for other people, thats what will make him continue, Heimer said. Thats why I have no doubt.How to train?Chmiel fractured a pelvic bone and suffered a double hernia from a fall in January doing a 100-mile run in Hong Kong. Surgery and recovery kept him from running for a couple of months. He began training in earnest in May and has been doing about 30 hours a week of cross training, strength work and running, about 80 miles a week. After seven years as an ultrarunner and more than a decade as a runner, in which time he has completed 21 marathons, he has a solid endurance base.He says theres no way to train specifically for doing 3,000 miles.What am I supposed to do, go out and run 50 miles a day every day for a month so I can go do it for two months? he said. Youre going to get injured.He did, however, work on getting used to the desert heat hell experience.In late August, he ran 100 miles in Death Valley when temperatures during the day reached 110 degrees. Chmiel, with a friend in support, did five separate running sessions of 14, 11, 36, 13 and 26 miles over a 48-hour period so he could focus on the warm-up, cool-down, warm-up process. His run time was about 16 hours.I felt strong overall, he said. So it was definitely a confidence builder.Feeding the beastA highly active adult male of 35 needs about 3,000 calories per day, according to the USDA. Chmiel plans to consume 10,000-12,000 calories per day, but even then it wont be enough.Hell burn about 20,000 calories daily. Essentially, his body will need more fuel than he can consume.Much more, he said. Thats why youre going to have muscle wasting, and your bodys going to deteriorate.A company that produces balanced, pre-made organic meals of 600-700 calories each will provide microwaveable meals along the route. Hell eat six to seven a day. Hell also consume gels and nutritional supplements while he runs. That will be supplemented with anything he can get his hands on, including pasta feasts and restaurant stops.When you eat that much in a short period of time, everything starts tasting the same, he said. You have to eat, and youre craving anything salty -- chips, macadamia nuts, pepperoni. Things high in fat, high in calories. Olive oil is great, shots of olive oil. Get tons of calories real quick. And pizza.The toll and the careChmiel says hes not concerned about his cardio, but injuries are a given.Its the skeletal. Its the components, he said. The engines strong. Im worried about the parts.Fifty miles a will wreak havoc on his feet, ankles and knees. He has a surgically repaired ankle that will quickly start hurting. He has had five surgeries because of running injuries.So hell take care of his body during breaks with ice, chiropractic treatments, IV fluids, compression therapy and massages.The paceChmiel plans to run 10-minute miles and resist the urge to push it. If he can keep it there, he says he can go all day.He wants to do about two-thirds of his miles at night but isnt yet sure how hell break up each 24-hour cycle. Two sessions of 25 miles or three of 15-18 miles? Three sessions would give him an extra rest break but lessen the chance of getting a longer, deeper sleep.Logistics and costSome cross-country runners go bare bones, with one person pushing a baby stroller of supplies, unsupported. This wont be that.About 20 people have volunteered to help by driving, cooking, planning events and handling communications. A 32-foot RV will follow Chmiel, towing a trailer, giving the rolling expedition eight beds and two bathrooms. It will be expensive. To raise money for the charity, hes spending money.He estimates the effort will cost about $200,000, with many people chipping in, but a good chunk is coming from him.Its not just sacrificing your body, he said. I feel honored to be able to do it, talking about Chris legacy, being a part of something bigger than you.The detourChmiel plans to run for 60 of the 62 days from Sept. 11 to Veterans Day. On two days, hell take whirlwind trips for weddings of good friends. He doesnt call them days off, because theyll be hectic. And because of the timing of the second wedding, hell have to run 80 miles a day for five straight days to get back on pace.Tight schedule, baby, he said.Going the distanceChmiel is one of just 150 people to ever have completed the 4Deserts series of seven-day, 155-mile wilderness races. He also has run multiple 100-mile ultras, completed Ironman Lake Placid in 2011 and been good enough to run the Boston Marathon in 2012, all to challenge himself and raise money for charities.Now hes 3,031 miles and one fundraising goal from another conquest.This is my run for America and giving back, he said. Ive never DNFd (did not finish) a race in my life, and I dont intend on starting now.To see Chmiels route, schedule of events, concerts and how to donate, or to follow his progress, go to beastmodeforthebrave.org/george-team.Carl Banks Giants Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Julian Love Womens Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Julian-Love-Jersey/ . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Deandre Baker Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Phil Simms Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky.LONDON -- Jamie Vardy and Leicester embarrassed Manchester City to rediscover the look of champions.Citys defense disintegrated as Vardys hat trick powered Leicester to a 4-2 win that delivered an emphatic response to the teams critics on Saturday in the English Premier League.With his first treble since his days playing for Fleetwood in the fifth tier in 2012, Vardy ended a 16-game goal drought in all club competitions.We just wanted to make sure you saw the team fight for the cause, Vardy saw. We have definitely done that.The striker took only three minutes to rediscover his scoring touch against Pep Guardiolas side and City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was beaten again inside two minutes by Andy King. Both of Citys goals only came once Vardy eased Leicester into a four-goal lead, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito scoring in the last eight minutes.On a weekend when Leicester faced the possibility of dropping into the relegation zone of the league it won in May, Claudio Ranieris team halted a five-game winless run and moved four points clear of danger.City remains four points behind leader Arsenal in fourth place but has collected only 12 points from a possible 27 in its last nine games.Its not about the system, City defender Pablo Zabaleta said. We played with four at the back today, sometimes we play with three, and we know exactly what we have to do on the pitch. It is more about concentration.We know the risk we take every game because we are a very attacking team, and we want to attack all the time and create chances ... but of course at the back when you give space you have to concentrate on the players that you cant let run easily.Guardiola isnt complaining about his players.I have to look inside myself -- what I have to do -- and they have to follow me, the City manager said. We have missed points in the last games. We have to change as quickly as possible.There wasnt only a feast of goals at King Power Stadium. It was the first time in 23 years that six home teams scored three goals each on a single day in the league, according to stats company Opta.ARSENAL 3, STOKE 1Arsenal nudged ahead of Chelsea into top spot on goal diifference, ahead of its London rivals game against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.ddddddddddddArsenal kept its nerve after conceding Charlie Adams 29th-minute penalty. Theo Walcott leveled before halftime, Mesut Ozils looping header put Arsene Wengers side in front, and Alex Iwobi slotted in a third.SWANSEA 3, SUNDERLAND 0Swansea is out of the relegation zone after Bob Bradley won for only the second time in eight matches in charge. All the goals came in the second half, with Gylfi Sigurdsson netting from a penalty before a double from Fernando Llorente. Although Sunderland is bottom, Swansea is only a point ahead in 17th place.HULL 3, CRYSTAL PALACE 3Unlike its previous away game at Swansea, Palace profited from a late goal this time. Substitute Fraizer Campbell scored the last of five second-half goals in the 89th minute to grab a point for Alan Pardews side.Hull led through a penalty in the first half from Robert Snodgrass that was canceled out by another spot kick from Christian Benteke before Wilfried Zaha put Palace in front. The game swung back in Hulls favor when Adama Diomande and Jake Livermore scored but former Hull striker Campbell had the final say.BURNLEY 3, BOURNEMOUTH 2As Hulls Mike Phelan and Palaces Alan Pardew saw their sides produce a thriller, the leagues other two English managers also faced off. Sean Dyche got the better of Eddie Howe, who managed Burnley during a spell away from the Bournemouth dugout in 2011 and 2012.Jeff Hendricks dipping volley and Stephen Wards strike saw Burnley race in front in the opening 16 minutes. George Boyd netted Burnleys third in the second half either side of goals from Benik Afobe and Charlie Daniels.Bournemouth is a point ahead of Burnley in 11th place.WATFORD 3, EVERTON 2With one win in 10 league games, Everton manager Ronald Koemans problems are mounting. Watford leapfrogged Everton into seventh place thanks to Stefano Okakas double and Sebastian Prodls header. Watford held on after Romelu Lukaku, who opened the scoring, netted a late second. ' ' '