Simplify and focus

What I realized this week is that I am 39 years old, and I am never going to get good at the collection of hobbies I have been interested in pursuing.  Therefore, I had better pick one thing and focus on getting good at it.  Here's some of the interests and curiousities buzzing around in my head at any given moment.

• I'd kind of like to learn electronics.
• Or woodworking.
• In fact, I'd love to become a Maker.
• I'm in a Spanish class now, and I'd like to speak it fluently.
• I'd love to grow as a homebrewer.
• I wonder if I could learn to draw?
• I want to work on my writing.
• Could I pick up some songs on the ukulele? Or just get better on the bass?
• I need to break out my telescope more.

Notice I don't even mention running or anything related to software development or project management, my chosen profession.  Being curious and interested in lots of things are great when you are 10, or even 20, when your brain is agile, and you've got time.  I'm staring down the barrel of 40, and I've got a kid and a wife and a house to keep up.  After I come home from work, fix dinner, have family time, clean up from dinner, do some laundry, mow the yard, and feed the dog, where is my time for tinkering with an electronics kit or polishing my writing?  Typically, I don't have the energy to even read a book at the end of the day.

No, all I have time, energy, and a budget for is running.  [See? I bury my leads.  I'll never be a great writer.]  So that is my focus right now. I like reading about running, talking about it, experimenting with it. Running will be my craft. When people ask if I have any hobbies, I will say that I am a runner, a collector of marathon medals. If pressed, I will explain that running, for me, isn't just something I do for exercise.  I run like a stamp collector collects stamps.

This week, I ran well.  Heading into the weekend, I have run 14 miles so far on three days, not to mention one cross-training day.  If I am lucky, I will be able to squeeze in a 10 miler.  However, the weather calls for some serious rain and potential flooding, and we have lots of commitments both days.  Whatever happens, happens; but I will be searching for that running opportunity if I have to run in the middle of the night.

Pontificating

Like many other runners in the world, I have picked up a copy of Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  I'm a hundred pages or so into it, and McDougall has my brain buzzing.  What follows are some unformed thoughts, random ideas, lumpy observations.  Don't expect answers -- just questions.

So in this book, he's seeking this tribe of indigenous Mexicans, the Tarahumara, who have this incredible culture of long distance running.  Like many other cultures around the world, now and in pre-history, running isn't something they do three times a week with a heart monitor and $100 shoes.  Running is how they get from place to place.  Running is their entertainment.  It's their sport and a big slice of their culture.  From the time they are children, they run incredibly long distances.  And they do it in a dry, unforgiving part of the world eating a mean diet and wearing sandals.

This, coupled with an article I just read in Runners' World got me thinking.  There are fundamental errors in the way I think about running that hold me back.  I think it was Sinbad who told a story about white people and dancing.  Folks of less pale complexion just dance.  White people rise from their seat -- the place of sitting -- and walk across the room -- the place of walking -- to the dance floor, where dancing occurs.  Then, when the song is over, they stop dancing and walk back to their seats.  Over here, we sit; over here, we dance.  The point: some of us tend to compartmentalize and fragment our lives to an unhealthy extent.

Therefore, we have times of the day when we run.  We have special clothes and shoes for this activity. It starts, it happens, and then it ends.  The conditions have to be right.  I don't like running in the rain or on a full stomach. Sometimes I won't run if I forgot my running socks.  Of course, I don't think I am headed toward the idea of running anywhere at any time in any gear I happen to be wearing.  [Or am I?]  I mean, if I ran from home to work -- say -- in my work clothes, sat down in my cubicle, and worked the day all stinky, there would be consequences.  Our culture has strict norms of cleanliness and scent that encourage compartmentalizing exercise over there -- you do that over there, and come back after you shower. 

Maybe we are wrong.

I don't believe that we evolved -- through tens of thousands of years of running and chasing our food or running and avoiding becoming food or running to kill those other people taking our food or running to steal those other people's food -- in order to sit in cubicles all day and on couches all night watching TV.  I agree with others that we were born to run and be active constantly, and this thought is very much on my mind right now.  How do I integrate this idea into my life?

Getting back on track

My running funk have turned a corner because I realized, as I ran my three-miler late this morning, that I would rather be running than doing anything else (besides hanging out with my wife and my daughter, which has a strangle-hold on first place on my list of druthers.)  I certainly preferred running, on an ozone alert day even, to sitting in a cubicle, staring at a computer monitor.  Oh, if I could only get paid [what I get paid now] to run!  How awesome would that be?  Unfortunately, it seems you have to run really fast do live that dream, unless your name is John Bingham, who still runs faster than I.

Spring is the season for day dreaming and planning and marvelling at Possibility.  What races will I run this summer?  How many trail miles can I log before winter?  What will be my big running goals for 2010, now one-third over?  Would Amy and Dan put me up if I decide to run the Flying Pig next May?  Which of my other friends live in or near cities with big races I'd like to run in? 

Recent Victories: 

1. Yesterday, I could have slacked off, since my legs were somewhat sore from Monday's fiver, but instead I chose to do 30 minutes on a bike.  
2. Today, I could have chosen not to run because my late morning commitment ran long, and I had to return to my desk by noon to take a call, leaving me little time for running.  Instead of doing nothing, I easily squeezed in three miles and made all my work commitments.  

A week or two ago, I would have made the wrong choices, but now I think I am back on track. Oh yeah, speaking of track, I need to think about re-starting my track workouts.

[118] Trying to move on

ORN:  Today, I ran 4 miles in 41'19".  The weather was a sweltering 81° with 65% humidity, but at least we got a break from the monsoons.  It's been raining a lot lately, and that trend is supposed to continue this week.  My guess is Kentucky is reverting to a tropical rain forest or inland sea like it was back in the good, old days.

 

After reading my choppy, disconnected, rambling race report from Saturday, I thought I would add a few thoughts.  First, thanks to the commenters and their kind words losing my dog, Missy.  You know I don't like to get too emo around here, nor stray off topic too much, but this weekend sucked.  All weekend, Wifey and I gazed sadly at Missy's favorite napping spots around the house, as if she'd suddenly reappear, and the void made our hearts ache.  My mind keeps going to the moment the vet injected the poison into her leg, and she exhaled that relieved, final breath seconds later.  The tape of her death just keeps getting replayed over and over in my head, like a bad song on the radio.  Losing the dog we've had 14+ years, almost since we were married, has been a huge kick in the tenders for everyone. 

 

But enough of that.  Regarding the race and my huge win, the hardware I got for my first place finish was a cute little trophy that Little One promptly put on the piano next to all her soccer trophies.  At some point, it got covered with glitter from one of her art projects.  She's in a glittery phase with her art.

 

On the running tip, I had every intention of running another four miles Saturday to make it an even 20 for the week, but I just didn't.  I didn't run any more Saturday, and I didn't do much of anything on Sunday either.  Instead, I overate and drank beer, gaining two pounds for all the good it did me.  Everybody at my house is just trying to keep their stuff together, y'know?

 

[123] Open the floodgates!

ORN: Today, during a calm in our day-long thunderstorms, I ran 4.3 miles in 43'41". The weather was a tolerable but sweaty 70° with 92% humidity. I had to scramble because my usual route was blocked by workers maintaining the floodgate at 8th Street. I had to find another way through the flood wall, and you'd think I'd have that information at hand since I work for the agency that maintains the flood protection system here. And since I am an emergency flood pumping station operator. But alas, I'm ignorant of such things. Like a mouse looking for a hole in an unfamiliar wall, I wandered around a bit.

But otherwise the run was great. I'm so grateful to be running after my brief hiatus. I left the locker room after getting cleaned up with a smile on my face and feeling like a hundred bucks.

In other news, my dear Little One has aspirations of becoming a runner. Or rather, she expressed tepid interest in joining her school's cross country team, and daddy is blowing it out of proportion. But in my defense, she did say she wanted to learn how to run faster after her so-so performance at the foot races on Field Day. So last night, we went for a walk/run around the neighborhood. Technically, what I had her do was a fartlek workout -- I didn't tell her that because you can't say fartlek around a 6 year old [you can barely say it around me.] I also kept her interest up with occasional form drills like butt kicks and knee lifts, which kids find fun and I find embarassing.

The way it worked was I'd walk along in my flip flops ['twas my rest day, after all] and tell her "Go hard for three driveways and sprint back." Or, "Run normal speed up to that light post and do butt kicks back." That way, I could walk, and she could get her wiggles out. But I kept having the suspicion that she could run for an extended period if I went with her and encouraged her. Sure enough, right before our walk ended, I decided we'd jog back home from where we were. She wanted me to count the seconds, and I agreed. So she and I, in my flip flops, ran all the way back home, past some ladies showing/looking at a house for sale, with me counting up the minutes and seconds. I kinda felt like an idiot, but I've learned you can get away with looking like an idiot sometimes if you are with a small child. We did three minutes without stopping. I'm a proud papa.

Oh, and running in flip flops felt great. No foot pain at all. I'll file that under "Things that make me go 'Hmmm.'"

Back in the saddle

ORN: Today, I ran four miles in 40'06", which was fine with me on my first run since the marathon. Everything felt fine except I was low-energy.

Before today, I had not run all week because I was sick. I didn't have the swine flu, but I was coughing my lungs up anyway. After spending a couple days in bed, drinking lots of water and reading comic books, I am back on my feet and ready to go. I'm waiting to get a book from the library on the FIRST system, because I think I am going to base my summer running plan on it. It ought to fit in nicely with my four-day-a-week running, plus encourage me to cross train.

The basic idea of FIRST, as I understand it, is to run have three quality runs per week plus cross training. I see myself easily accomplishing a interval/repeat workout, a tempo run, and a long run every week to meet this goal. I could substitute hill repeats for a speed workout for variety's sake. My fourth run would be an easy run, which I believe, according to the system, counts as a cross-training session. I'd need to do one more cross-training session each week, so maybe I'll dust off my bicycle. We'll see.

We're done here

ORN: Three casual miles along the river in 28'34". Couldn't have asked for a lovelier day. A perfect end to a perfect training schedule. Nothing like sentence fragments to brighten a blog post.

Since January 5th, when my marathon training began, I have run 386.88 miles. As of today , I am done. I have run every hill, fartlek, interval, tempo, and easy workout I am ever going to run for this marathon. There's nothing to be done except to eat well, hydrate [especially since it's supposed to be >80°], lay out my clothes, sleep soundly, and set my alarm. Maybe two alarms.

I had a dream that I overslept and missed the race. *shudder*

It's an odd feeling, being done with training. With a day and a half to go before the starting gun, I feel like I ought to be doing something. Part of me feels like I didn't do enough, even though I ran 100% of every workout on my plan. I executed the plan perfectly, but I have time left... energy left... shouldn't I have something else to do?

No. Just rest.

I am taking the day off from work tomorrow to just putter around. I'm as prepared as I am ever going to be for this race. We'll see Saturday how well my plan worked.

Talk to you on the other side.

Mindhacking

ORN: Today, in lovely 60° weather, I ran four miles in 36'44". I felt strong today. Stuff is coming together.

Wifey sometimes says to me, exasperated, when we have a weighty matter on the table, "How can you not be thinking about _____?" My problem is that I can only hold one thing in my mind at a time, and even then, it's like grabbing a bar of soap in the bathtub. Her mind is usually abuzz with about 30 things that need thinking about, cross-referenced, indexed, and collated. Thank goodness for that, too, because one of us needs to be on the ball. I have a nearly supernatural ability to Not Think About Things. I can cast things out of my mind like nobody's business.

What were we talking about? See how I did that?

But the marathon keeps wanting to be thought about. It sneaks through the barriers like a puppy and demands attention. The marathon wants me to freak out. "Why aren't you crapping your pants with panic?" it says. "This is your first marathon, dumbass." And when this happens, I can almost feel my blood pressure rising a couple ticks as my anxiety rises to a simmer. That's when I start playing tricks on my mind. Just to piss off the marathon, I just assume it's a done deal, a run race, in the can, and I start thinking about what I'm going to do after the marathon. Some ideas:

• Speed work. I plan to make the two months between this marathon and my training for the Chicago marathon worthwhile; therefore, I plan to throw myself headlong into speed training. I want to make Chicago a devastating PR. I fantasize about it being my BQ moment.
  
• Barefoot running. I know. But I've been reading a lot about it, and it makes intuitive sense to me. Maybe I will ease into it by finding a good running sandal or thin-soled trainer like the Nike Free. Or moccasins. Something to keep the glass out of my feet.
  
• Running for time rather than distance. Sometime back, I ran only paying attention to minutes [even though I still tracked miles,] and it was kinda cool. I might go back to it. [George Sheehan recommended that in one of his books.] I figure I'll run 40 minutes during the week, and 60-90 minutes for my long run. Something like that.
• Run trails. Of all these ideas, I think this is one I will almost certainly do. I'll try to do this at least once a week over the summer.

See, by thinking about what's next, my mind avoids stressing over what's coming this Saturday. The key to making this mindhack work is being totally prepared for the big thing I am trying to avoid worrying about. Not thinking about the final exam and not being prepared for it is just harebrained. [I should know; that's how I did undergrad.] I'm in terrific shape for this marathon and, at this point, cannot do any more. I believe in my guts that I have done everything that can possibly be done apart from laying out my clothes and pinning my bib onto my shirt. And I'll do those things Friday night, and so they will be done soon enough too.

Convincing myself that I've done everything I needed to do and starting to think about what I will do next helps to keep the worries at bay.

Why do I do this?

ORN: Not feeling very good today [tummy issues], I nevertheless ran because that's what I do. Adequately fueled and hydrated, I ran my planned four miles in 39'02".

The Spirit of the Marathon cosplayers at The Runners' Lounge are forcing me to write about blogging. I say forcing because I cannot think of anything to write about today, yet I would never choose to blog about blogging on my own. I think writing about writing is pretty dull to read, and blogging about blogging makes me feel downright dirty. Proceed with care. This post may be more boring than usual. So, why do I blog? A few reasons spring to mind.

• Blogging is yet another means of tracking my progress. I have a pen-and-paper log wherein I scribble facts and figures about my training, but that tool fails to capture the story of my running life. It just captures data. My blog is where I think out loud about running and play with ideas. Whereas with my paper logs, I can review past performances, with the blog I can look back and see how my attitudes have changed over time.
• Blogging allows me to interact with people who share my interests. It's a lot different trying to make friends when you are 38 and working, with a family, from when you are a teenager, in school and surrounded by people just like you. Very few of my friends run, so there are limits to how much I can bond with people in meatspace about this stuff. Blogging lets me ask and answer questions and learn from others. This yields very concrete training benefits, because what I learn usually translates into performance gains.
  
• Blogging serves as an outlet for my writing. I have a deep-down need to write and publish, and for better or worse, the internet makes that easy. If I don't run, I can't write about it, so in a round about way, blogging serves a motivation tool that keeps me running.
  
• Very occasionally, blogging nets me free stuff. But these blessed events are too infrequent to be true incentives.
  

I like The Cramps but not the cramps

ORN: Today, I ran eight miles in 1:20'12". It was a toughie, if only because I had stomach cramps throughout the run. Not side stitches, but whole-tummy cramping. I kept hoping for explosive diarrhea and the sweet, sweet relief it would provide but no such luck. Not even a squeak. Stupid digestive system. Otherwise, I had a good day. It took it easy, taking walk breaks after every second mile. I'm burned out, people. I'm plum tuckered. But that's my last killer, mid-week run. Six tomorrow and then 20 this weekend.

One of the great joys of training for a marathon is talking to non-runners about what I am doing. I recently attended a luncheon at work and ate with some people I don't see too often. One of them asked me how fund raising was going, and I told her it was going great. And she asked for details on the race, and I explained that it was 26.2 miles. That's when I got the jaw drop. Priceless.

See, I mainly talk about running to two groups of people: a) you nerds, who are all runners, and thus, desensitized to anything short of Kenyan- or Dean Karnazes-level achievement, and b) my wife, who is unimpressed by almost everything I say and do. Rarely do I converse with someone who's totally blindsided, utterly gobsmacked, not just by my intention to run 26.2 miles in a few weeks, but my weekly accumulation of scores and scores of running miles.

How pathetic can I get? I know I can't run fast or far enough to impress runners. My cheap thrills come from impressing non-runners. Sad.

Welcome to Peak Week!

ORN: I tore myself away from following the latest news on Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson's break-up to go run. It was a tough choice. This is, after all, our culture unfolding before our eyes. But in difficult, uncertain times such as these, it's our traditions and routines that see us through. Mourning the whole way, I ran six miles in 59'02". Suffering continued as I ran into a 15 MPH headwind for the first three miles. Time to break out the Cure albums and black eyeliner. Moving on.

BTW Peak Week does not mean I'll be climbing the Matterhorn for cross training. This is my peak mileage week -- 40 miles planned including a 20-miler on Saturday. This massive amount of running would be overwhelming if it were not for the 37.4 miles I did last week with the 18-mile long run. I mean, it's just a three mile increase. Still, it's a lot of miles, and I am not taking it lightly.

What has me most excited about Peak Week is that after Saturday's 20 I'm in Tapertown. The week of the 13th has a paltry 26 miles planned. I lecherously fantasize about being able to run just four miles and then stop for the day. Just a 13 mile long run? Glee! The week of the 20th will be even easier except for that 26.2 long run at the end. That'll be a pisser, but at least I'll get a medal and t-shirt for my troubles.

Thinking out loud

ORN: Today, I had one of those days where all I can say is "at least I ran." I was tired, my legs were heavy-feeling, and I had little energy. It might have been the Monty Python Holy Grail Ale last night, or it might just be fatigue. Either way, I am glad that's over. That's seven miles I'll never have to do again [1:09'44"].

Yesterday, I took a Mental Health Day; the family and I went to Mammoth Cave and did the Historic Tour. We had a good time, but naturally, my sick mind kept drifting back to running as I hiked 300 feet below the surface. What if there was a 5K race in the cave? Surely there are three continuous miles of reasonably safe trail somewhere down there. Oooh! Oooh! And turn out the lights! Everybody in headlamps. Or what about a Marathon? It'd never happen in a million years, if only for liability reasons, but it was fun to think about during the boring parts of the tour.

Get faster the Viking Running™®© way

ORN: Today, I sped across the Clark Memorial Bridge, running the Indiana portion of the KDF Marathon. It turned out to be a hard five mile out-and-back, which I squeezed out in a nice 47'08". I paid for it though. My right hip is sore, deep in the joint.

The semi-autonomous knowbots over at the Runners' Lounge have issued a command: write about getting faster. By your command, I respond.

What I know about getting faster I could fit into an unopened can of sardines. But still, somehow, almost without trying, I have gone from being a consistent 10'30" runner six months ago to being a consistent sub-10' runner now. Yesterday, in fact, I ran six miles at an 8'55" average pace, a feat I'm apparently not through bragging about. [Yesterday, I ran six miles at an 8'55" average pace. Rolls right off the tongue.] Anyway, I cannot say that I have faithfully run regular speed workouts, nor can I say that I have put 100% effort into the ones I did. As far as I can tell, I can chalk up my speed improvements to just two things.

1) I'm running consistently. Since the beginning of the year, nearly three solid months now, I have not missed a single workout. Nor have I cut a workout short. I've run 100% on schedule. Since this consistency is correlated to my improved speed, I am tempted to believe there is a causal relationship, but I know that way lies bad science.Still, in the previous couple years of my running career, my performance never got better than 10'30" or 10'20" per mile, and my running was never consistent for more than three or four weeks in a row. Draw your own conclusions.

2) I'm running lots of hills. Almost all of my workouts during the week are on flat trails, but on Saturdays, my long runs have all been very hilly. I've also tried to run across one of the downtown bridges -- essentially a long-ass hill -- once a week or so. And I haven't wussed out on these hills; I attacked them, giving them a strong effort each time. In fact, I now look forward to hills to break up the tedium of long runs.

Now, faithful readers, I admit I have done the occasional interval workout [probably two this year], a fartlek or two, and an unplanned tempo workout now and then. This is all technically speed work, I guess. But it's been mostly spontaneous, half-hearted, and seldom repeated from one week to the next. In other words, I believe my simple formula of running consistently four times a week and doing hills at least once a week is almost entirely responsible for my improved performance.

Your mileage may vary.

Vernal Equi-Rocks!

ORN: Today, on the last day of an awful winter, I ran five miles in a nice 47'11", which is my best time for this distance all year. I didn't feel like I was running especially fast, especially considering I still am having that shoulder pain that I complained about yesterday.

I couldn't be happier that Winter is on it's way out. I am not a Winter person. Sure, after winning the lottery, I'd like to live in Boston. But I would only spend the six months of the year there that are bearable. The rest of the year I'd be in Hawaii watching pineapples grow and lava flow, busting rhymes with mahalo.

Serious case of what's-the-point-itis

ORN: Ran 10 km in 1:01'15". After weeks of having great runs, I was due for a bad day, and this was it. It started out fine, but around the third mile or so, I started having that shoulder pain I've been getting lately. It was especially bad; bad enough that I had to stop a couple times and stretch it out. It's in my right shoulder, and the pain feels like my arm is going to pop out of its socket. Eventually, that went away, and something else took its place. Severe stomach cramps. They weren't side stitches. I know what those are and can cope with them. This was something else. It was all across my abdomen, where my stomach and diaphragm are. I nearly was doubled over with the pain. I walked it off, and it, too, passed.

I'm surrounded by sick people in this crazy town. I fear I've caught something. I cannot afford to get sick at this stage of training.

But for now, here I am, hat in hand.

First day of the rest of my life

ORN: Today, I ran 10 kilometers in 59'43". My hamstrings were tight and sore from the 10 miler on Saturday and the seven mile walk yesterday. Wifey is walking the Triple Crown of Running, and I am being supportive. Tomorrow, full rest day. Seriously, y'all.

Last week [22 miles] was my last easy week before the marathon. This week, I will do 31 miles [14 mile long run], then 33 [16], 37 [18], and finally 40 [20] the week ending April 11th. I'm telling you this because my posts will probably start sounding redundant. ["OMG, this is the longest I've ever run, etc."] Frankly, I am anxious to get on with it. Six weeks to go before the race, less than 50% of my training miles left to go, and I am impatient to pin on my bib and take off. Let's rock this joint.

I think I have an answer to the inevitable post-marathon, then-what? depression. My buddy Chris has talked me into doing the Chicago Marathon with him in October. I was going to do the Louisville Marathon, which is in October also, but I'd rather do Chicago. I'm in the earliest stages of researching it, but I think the odds are better than even that I'll do it.

I've lost my frakkin' mind.

Only in running...

ORN: This morning, I ran four miles in a slow and steady 38'51". I was slightly achy and tired from this week's earlier speed fests. So today, I eased up on the gas and just cruised. I under-dressed for the weather today [30°] and was uncomfortable most of the way.

The idea-bots at the Runners' Lounge assigned us to write on the theme of "only in running...." My first draft of this post was all about snot and other bodily unpleasantness, but I'm taking the high road instead.

Only in running do I find a subject I want to write and read about so consistently. I've started and abandoned more writing projects in my life than I care to mention. I've started paper journals, short stories, comic book scripts, and novels. None of them, have I seen through for very long. I have over 400 posts here. Sure, I have abandoned this place from time to time, but I keep coming back because I keep running. And running gives me stuff to write about. I'm always learning about it, and about myself, and that gives me more and more stuff to say.

Running is the proverbial self-licking ice cream cone.

But sometimes I run out of things to say, and I cut the post short.

Mistakes were made

ORN: Today, I ran out and back across the Clark Memorial Bridge, twice, because my running mentor, Tracy, suggested it. Since the wind was up, I got to wrestle with my fear of heights as visions of a great tsunami lifting me up and over gave me the heebie-jeebies. Also, I got to cope with boredom because running back-and-forth across a nearly mile-long bridge gets dull after a while. Oh, and the whole thing took me 49'12". Now, I just have to run 13 miles on Saturday, and I'll be done for the week. Yipee!

This week's Take It and Run Thursday theme is Common Running Mistakes. I've made my share in my brief running career, but the primary one is waiting until my mid-30s to become a runner. I had opportunities to become a lifelong runner when I was a younger and less massive man, but I failed to seize them.

• In high school, I was on the varsity track team, and I only did it for the Letter. I was the slowest runner on the team. I could have been a stronger runner had I not a) smoked and b) taken training so lightly. Seriously, I probably would never been a track star, but I could have built a strong base on becoming a lifelong runner. Incidentally, my best pace at this point in my life was 7'20". I'd stick my tongue on a flag pole in the dead of winter to run 7'20" nowadays.
  
• In college, in Navy ROTC, I had to run with a group of jarheads three times a week. It was a Marine Corps thing; you wouldn't understand. But I never took running seriously back then either. In fact, I dreaded it. I only ran when they made me, my diet was awful, and I frequently drank a lot before early morning distance sessions. Had I taken this phase of my running life seriously, I would have been able to do distance running in one of the greatest running cities in the world. I was probably running 8'30" miles at this point, but that's a guess.
  
• After college, when I was in the Navy, I should have run if only to keep my semi-annual physical readiness tests from being such a hassle. Heck, the running portion of the test was only a mile and a half. Back then, I joked -- almost bragged -- that I ran just three miles a year. I worked in a culture that required physical fitness. Had I run at this phase, I might not have gained that pesky 10 pounds [between 170 and 180] that never seems to want to leave. I had to run 8'30"/mile to pass, and I just barely did all eight times I took the test.
  

Now that I am 37, proud to be running a consistent 9'30"/mile pace, I look back at all the opportunities I had to become a lifelong runner, and I think to myself, "How typical." How typical to not realize a good thing when you have it. How much better shape would I be in now if I had started running when I was 15-16 and had 22 years of training behind me?

Don't get me wrong. I am very happy with my fitness level right now, and I am in love with my running habit. Those two or three hours a week [or four... or five] I am on the road are precious to me. I only wish I could have enjoyed this incredibly satisfying lifestyle when I was a younger man. My advice to you whipper-snappers: start running early and don't stop.

TGI-March

ORN: This morning, I ran five miles in 51'12". Yeah, I know. I took it way slow because I was way tired, way burned out, and on auto-pilot in terms of motivation. I mean, I ran, but I wasn't exactly bounding out the door. I am still tired from this weekend. After the 12 miler on Saturday, I foolishly behaved like a good, supportive husband and walked six miles with Wifey. She's walking the Triple Crown. I should have rested, but she really appreciated it.

I am so glad it's March. That means it'll be spring soon, right? Right? Today, it was 22° when I ran. I saw a dude out running with a t-shirt that said "Winter Sucks." Amen, brother.

Incidentally, I ran 92.6 miles in February. That's eight more miles than I ran in February 2008. Makes sense, considering I was training for a half marathon then and am training for a full marathon now. I ran more in February 2009 than every month of 2008 except March. If things go according to plan, I ought to obliterate the 100-mile mark this month and be darned close to 300 miles for the year.

Figured it out all by myself

ORN: What a way to spend a Saturday: running 12 miles in 2:01'51". I felt good throughout, although I was ready to stop running when I stopped. My body was fine -- no pain at all. My greatest issue was boredom. Plodding along the road for two hours with no iPod and no companionship got boring. But I did it. And the rest of my Saturday was pretty good, too. The rest of the day I took great satisfaction in telling people, yeah, I ran 12 miles this morning while you were still in bed.

I think I may have figured out the mind-hack needed for me to get through these long-ass runs on Saturdays. I'm in this running group, right? It starts at 8:00. Most of the runners in the group are either training for the triple crown [5K, 10K, and 10 miler] or are running the Derby Festival half marathon. Only a couple of us are running the full marathon. [Actually, Fearless Leader Tracy is training for Boston, but that's her story to tell.] So I asked Tracy a while ago, what I should do. Everybody else is running 6-7 miles; I am running 8-9 miles and more. Brilliant coach that she is, she suggested running 4-5 miles before the group starts running, and then run 4-5 miles with the group.

Duh.

So that's how I run with the group. This time around, I ran 7.5 miles before the group showed up. Then at 8:00, I was prepared to run the balance of my 12 with my comrades. Sadly, I didn't end up running with anyone because by that point in the day, I was becoming exhausted; they were fresh. They sped off while I did the ass-end of my Long Slow Distance. Still, we started together; several of us finished together, more or less.

But apart from being able to enjoy the social aspect of my group, this is a great way to run long distances. Break it up into chunks. I'd heard of people saying to themselves that they think of the marathon as two ten milers and a 10K or something. But I never made the connection that this is a really clever hack for making any long run less intimidating. Rather than running 13 miles next weekend, which is nearly the most I've ever run, I will be running seven and six. And the bonus is a brief intermission between them to hook up with my peeps and drink some water. Two distinct workouts. Not one monolithic 13 miler: a seven and a six. Looking ahead:

Not 14: seven and seven.
Not 16: ten and six.
Not 18: ten and eight.
Not 20: ten and ten.

So long as I keep the segments [mentally] under ten, then I know the workout will not be impossible. I can do seven to ten miles. No problem. Call it swallowing the elephant one bite at a time.

I'm sure you all have heard of this before, and I am late to the insight. But I'm pretty pleased with myself and my own cleverness, so please don't ruin the moment for me.