Temporary obstacles...

I had a great week of running last week. I really needed it, too.

This week is different. I got 16 miles done on Sunday with a good chunk of the middle ones at marathon pace. That was good, but my body felt a little off that day. The run also seemed to take a lot out of me. Or maybe that was just the start of something funky going on...

My body is a little broken right now. I believe it's all temporary stuff, and I believe it will be better in a day or two -- maybe three. I don't have time for it to last longer than that, though.

I'll spare you (whomever that may be) the details. Some of it was worrisome enough that I made an appointment at the hospital for some tests today. Other stuff, like my head hurting from wrestling with my nephew and him accidently kicking me above my right temple with his cleats, my lack of good sleep, and my tight legs are just extra speed bumps right now.

So, I have some (hopefully) temporary obstacles. I'll ride this out, but it better move through quickly.

I have some more good running to do!

Getting it back.

I'm pretty sure most people have, at some point in their life, lost something important to them. Think about it. Think back to a time when something (maybe even someone) really valuable to you was misplaced, or lost, or left.

Remember how you felt? Remember the frustration of it not being where you wanted it to be? Think about how much time you spent trying to find it or get it back. Think about how much it consumed your every thought. I mean, this thing was important to you. It was part of you.

Remember the sadness when you started to realize it might never come back? The disappointment that you might never see it again? Think about it -- did you almost even mourn the loss? Go through feelings of missing it? Wanting it back, and feeling the hole that was left in its place?

The feelings are the same whether it's a person, a treasured memento, or, say, running.

And when it leaves you -- either by choice, by accident, or for some other reason, it's difficult to deal with.

But if you're lucky, you get it back.
At first, there's a glimpse. A hint it may return.
You may even get some help searching for it.
Then, when you aren't even looking, it's right there in front of you.

The frustrations disappear, the sadness replaced by hope and renewed appreciation.

There is new perspective, new enthusiasm, new happiness. There may even be renewed strength and renewed focus.

After all the frustration and disappointment, getting it back is a really good thing...

Learning what works

Yesterday's 20 miler provided me with some important realizations.

For the past 2.5 years, since I started really running, I've been reading, listening, experimenting, and learning a lot. At times I'll try something because it seems like a lot of people do it that way. Other times I'll try something because I think it's what I'm supposed to do. I'll see what faster people do, and I'll try it. I'll see what people do who have been running a lot longer, and I'll try it. I'll see what people who seem to have made great progress have done, and I'll try that.

Over the course of my (short) running lifetime, I've wanted to be faster, run stronger, do better. I've seen friends -- real and virtual -- accomplish things I wish I could do. And I dwell on why I haven't been able to. I compare training plans and try to figure out what I should be doing.

And all the while, I sometimes forget to listen to my body.

In mile 14 of my run yesterday, I wanted to quit. The run had been great up to that point. Legs felt fine, run was going well. Then I stopped to refill my water and less than a mile later, I didn't feel well. I was cold, had no energy, and convinced myself I shouldn't do these long runs anymore.

I took a gel. I adopted a new mantra.

Two things that changed the course of that 20 miler.
Two things that may change the course of my future long runs.

I've learned I need to fuel well, even during training runs. I'm fine on runs up to 15 miles or so, but anything over that, and I really need to pay attention to my fueling. My body needs it. When I run long and don't fuel smartly, the runs aren't good. Period.

Pain is fleeting, accomplishment is everlasting. Push beyond.
Pain is fleeting, accomplishment is everlasting. Push beyond.

Repeating those words, believing those thoughts, brought focus to my run yesterday. I got through that rough mile or so, the gel kicked in, and by mile 16 I was feeling good again. I decided to go an extra mile.

As I finished my 21 miles, I felt strong, I felt accomplished, I felt grateful for being able to push beyond those feelings of wanting to quit. I never stopped, I never walked, I kept running. My last 5 miles were my fastest miles, and I ended my run on a positive note.

More than 2.5 years after really starting my running, I'm still learning what works...

A running-filled day

Disclaimer: I'm keeping this post intentionally brief and intentionally subdued. My running has been pretty good this week, and I'd like that to carry into my 20+ miler tomorrow. I'm afraid if I say too much about it, I'll jinx myself for tomorrow...


Today was the Adrenaline 5k -- a great race put on by the running store where I work. It's a fast field and a good course. I PR'd here last year, with a time that surprised me -- in the middle of marathon training, a 5k PR wasn't on my mind.

I did not expect or plan to PR today, nor did I try. However, I did run pretty hard, and I ended up with a time I'm happy with -- 24:08. I had fun, I joked with my wonderful friend Lori who came out to cheer and the running store guys I saw along the way, and I was happy with how my legs felt. I jogged a short cooldown to say congrats to a friend and to cheer on another friend, I got to meet up with my friends Tom and Jen (who ran a great race!), and I made my way over to the kids race -- I had to help with that.

After the kids' race, I walked up to the store with Lori and got to catch up for a too-short bit, and then I jogged home to shower and head back to work. Work was fun -- the store was packed, we had a bunch of food out for everyone to celebrate the store's anniversary and the race, and it felt good to be back in the mix with everything running.

All in all, I ran about 6.5 miles today. I ran a solid race, things feel good, and I have a little bit of a renewed enthusiasm/outlook/mindset on things.

I'm planning to carry that into tomorrow's long run...

Running, away

Thursday afternoon I flew down to Florida and drove to the Keys for a short get-away. It was a quick 3 days, but well worth it. I was able to run away from work and home-life monotony and run in some warm weather and sunshine.

My dad rents the same house in Marathon, Florida every year -- and now it feels like our home away from home.

I arrived late Thursday night and was up and running early Friday morning. I got 5.5 miles done, progression-run style. Started with a 9:40 first mile and got faster through each, ending with an 8:19 last mile and a slow half-mile cool down. My body was definitely not used to the warmer temps, but it was great to run in a tank and shorts.

Got some good pool/sun time and played with my nephews, and then hit the beach just down the road for a short open water swim. Sombrero Beach is in a cool little cove just around the bend from the house.

Friday night we went to a friend's house for a BBQ dinner, some pool time, and fishing off their dock. Lots already packed into my short, little trip!

I woke up before sunrise Saturday morning so I could grab a bite to eat and be ready to run at first light. As soon as the sky broke, I headed out for my 16 miler. The first 8 miles went by easily. Legs felt fine, the sun was still trying to break through some early morning clouds, and I had planned a good route. By the time I hit mile 12, the sun was blazing. As I made my way back down US1 toward our road, I hit mile 13 and realized how high my heartrate was getting. I had been running at a comfortable, good pace, but with the sun now out in full force and my body getting overheated, I slowed myself down. Dad met me along the way and I grabbed a water bottle from him and dumped it over my head. At mile 14 I told him I'd see him at home and continued on my way. Even though the run was tough in those 82*, hot last 3 miles, I feel pretty good about this one. And I had the best post-run recovery trick: I stripped down to my sports bra and shorts and hopped right into the unheated pool! Instant ice bath :)

After enjoying the pool for a bit, we headed to the local seafood festival, got some more beach time, and went out for a sunset dinner on the water.

Sunday was a quick morning -- a short run, some brief beach time with my nephews, and then I was on the road back up to the airport. Although my flight was delayed, I eventually made it home safely late last night. A long day, but it capped off a short, fun-packed weekend. A mini-vacation that was well worth it.

"My philosophy on running is, I don't dwell on it, I do it."

JOAN SAMUELSON

I stopped at the running store yesterday. Mentioned to the guys that my running has been troubling lately. Paces are ok, but everything feels harder than it should, and I'm not as fast as I have been in the past.

The owner, my friend, said, "You think about it too much. Even when I gave you an easy plan, you didn't like it." (Which, I should add, is only partly true -- but for reasons I don't need to go into now.) His few words about my situation ended with, "You need to stop thinking so much about it."

Since I ran my first marathon, I've been consumed with the idea of getting better -- training harder, running more, racing to PR's. My second marathon was my PB to date. That's the one where I (for the most part) followed my running store friend's plan, which was worked around triathlon training and races that I just had to do that Fall... I also was lucky enough to have a friend -- someone who has BQ'd -- offer to pace me that day. I have run two marathons since then and two more LBI 18 milers since that first fast one, and I've run them all slower.

That Runner's World motivational quote showed up in my inbox today. Couldn't be a more appropriate message.

I need to stop thinking so much about it, and just run.

Now if I could just figure out how to do that...

to me

Remember this day?


Look closely. This was your first LBI 18 mile run.

This was barely 4 months after you started distance running.

You were new.

You were naive.

You were running farther than you'd ever run before.

You ran without much knowledge.

You ran like it was so easy.

Remember this day?
When your pace was fast, but you didn't think about it...

When you sailed through the miles smiling and soaking it all in...

When you cheered on other runners around you through the race...

Look closely.

You'll see someone who didn't know about training paces or speedwork.

You'll see someone who didn't have expectations because there was nothing to measure against.

You'll see someone who marveled at and celebrated each new milestone.

Remember this day?


You ran fast.

You ran happy.

You joked at mile 10 -- only 8 to go? That's nothing!

You ran with hurting knees, but ran fast anyway.

You loved. every. step.

You ran fast.

You didn't know what you were doing, and you ran fast.

You ran less mileage, and you ran fast.

You were excited by the new adventure, and you ran fast.

Remember this day?

You need to remember this day.

Mafia dates, feeling woozy, and a tv episode!

I've been running. And, I've been busy.

I did my first 20 miler of this training round this Saturday, after the date Friday night with the guy who, according to him, was caught laundering money for the mafia years ago and has been acting as a witness for the feds ever since -- while still remaining cool with the mafia guys. I know some people might not be ok with this, but I knew when you walked in the door I wanted to go out with you again and you'd need to know why I disappear for days at a time.

Right. Um, true or not, that's not a selling point to tell on a first date. No thanks.

Oh, and he's still cool with the mafia 'cause they kidnapped him twice but the feds never rescued him -- so that the mafia didn't find out he's working for the feds. See these scars on my wrist? That's from the knife the Russian mafia guys used that time.

No, really. That's what my date was on Friday.

So, the 20 miler was ok. Not the greatest. First half was fine, and I even thought, huh - only 15 to go... only 10 to go... etc. Then, by mile 14, I was ready for it to be over. My pace was generally where it should be, but it just felt harder than it should. By mile 17, I felt slightly woozy and walked for about 10 seconds. Cursed myself, gave myself a pep talk, pretended the Mafia date guy was chasing me (not really), and made my way home.

I really wondered why I was running another marathon this spring. I'm still wondering, but I'm still training, too. For now. More on that another time.

Got a last minute invite to attend a screening of a new tv sitcom pilot with a friend, and then stayed in the city for a yummy and fun dinner at a funky restaurant. We had a lot of fun laughing at my date stories from the night before. The people around us were entertained by the wacky stories, too. It's just too bad the cute bartender was way too young. And gay, I think. But super cute. He made a mean raspberry cosmo, though.

Sunday I set out for an easy 5 recovery-type miles. My left knee felt a little wonky, but this run ended up feeling better than the 20. Ok, systems reset...

I went to bed last night after a full weekend of running, wackiness, fun, and a phone call. From my boss. No work on Monday, big snow forecast. Rolled over and turned off the alarm.