I can not believe what happened last night.  We had all of our video equipment, our laptop and other things in two bags in the back of my Jeep parked on my driveway outside my house stolen.   Sometime between 10:00pm and 11:45pm Thursday someone opened up the back of my Jeep and took the two bags that had all this equipment.

They also took Michael (our director) wallet that had some credit cards.  At 12:20am they charged $4 for gas to make sure the card worked.  At 12:45 they charged $20 at In and Out Burgers and then 30 minutes later they charge $123 at a gas station.  At one of these locations they had a video camera running.  The police are going to check it out.

What kind of scum does things like this? They took over $12,000 worth of equipment.  But the show goes on.  Rich Stiller and I scheduled a three mile run and then lunch today.  The whole purpose was to talk about the Zippy 5k on Sunday.  80% of what we talked about was this situation.  However, Rich gave me some good advice.  He has run this course many times over the years.   I will be ready to run on Sunday.  I want to get under 20 minutes for 5k.  We have rented equipment and have made arrangements for things to continue.  We did not loose any footage we have shot and everything can be replaced.

The Zippy 5k will be my 18th race of the year.  I am hoping to get under 20 minutes but there is one hill at about the mile mark.  Christine Kennedy has told me how to tackle it and I am going to use her advice.  Dr JoAnn emiled me a audio file to help me focus.  Bill Dunn and I are going to be going for it.  This is a championship race and the competition is going to be tough.   I will be set to race Sunday in Golden Gate Park.  I want to run 19:59 or better...

I left my leather Jacket in our rental car in Kansas.  We called and they sent it to us.  The photo is a typical looking barn with a house near by in Kansas.  Of course, things happen in Kansas but not very often.  This is only the third time in 42 years that I have had something stolen from me in California.  However, I don't think this would have happened in Kansas!

I can't believe that! Right out of the driveway? Hopefully they catch them! It hasn't seemed to slow down the training! I think you'll break the 20 minute 5k!
Jodi Labossiere 4/21/12 10:45 am

I am ready to race in the morning...and nothing is stopping us in making our film. We have rented equipment and we are not letting this get in the way. No footage was lost. Thanks Jodi and Bill...
Bob Anderson 4/21/12 1:51 pm

Really sorry to read this Bob. Sadly the equipment will sell for pennies on the dollar and more than likely the culprits have already spent their proceeds in a few days. Ironically the ramifications on your end will be felt for a long time but fortunately the footage is still intact. I don't even want to think about it if the footage was also lost!
Roger Wright 4/22/12 1:50 pm

It looks like our business insurance is going to cover most of the lost. It does pay to have insurance...
Bob Anderson 4/26/12 10:21 pm

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I started running in Feb of 1962.  On our first day of our trip to Overland Park, Kansas we visited my high school.  Catherine and Michael looking around in the gym.  I started Distance Running News in 1966 here while attending Shawnee Mission West High School with $100.  On a bus on the way to a cross country meet in October, 1965 I told Dave Zimmerman that I was going to start a magazine.  At first he thought I was joking.  How could a 17-year-old kid start a magazine?

One of the current teachers (Jay Hollyman) at Shawnee Mission West took out a lifetime subsciption to Runner's World in 1982.  He wanted to see the issue I published in 1966.  (I changed the name from Distance Running News to Runner's World in 1970.)

The current principle (Dr. Charles McLean) welcomed me and crew to the school.  Shawnee Mission West is celebrating 50 years too!

Speaking with Coach O at the track meet being held at West on Friday.

I met up with Bruce Gilbert who was also running the Rock the Parkway half marathon the next day.  He is 62 and would be my competition in our age-group.

I was asked to start the 1600m boys race.  I was honored.

Saying a few words before the start.  The athletic Director Don looking on.  When I ran at this location in 1964-1966, this was a cinder track and there was a creek that ran down the middle.  It is now a beautiful all weather track.

My brother's son Morgan Anderson joined our crew and worked with us at the Rock the Parkway Half marathon the next day.  Photos by Catherine Cross

I met up with some classmates at the 50th Anniversity gathering on Sunday.