Mid July. It has been brutally hot for the last several days. Temps have routinely hovered in the mid to upper 90s with humidity often in the 80 percent range. June went about as expected which is to say I managed about 15 miles a week with one week posting no mileage at all. The travel schedule was overwhelming. July is shaping up a little better but no where near my marathon training regimen. Baltimore is looming on the horizon, I am considering a late entry at San Antonio, and the lottery for Houston opens in 8 days. I like running and want to take it more seriously but life gets in the way. Maybe that's how I know I am not committed yet.
In other news my daughter K and her fiance bought a dog. She is a cute little boxer mix. To my dismay they named her Luna after the character in Harry Potter. M and I resisted supporting this purchase as long as we could but in the end what do you say to a 21 year old 5th year senior and her betrothed other than "It can't live here and we don't want to wind up owning another dog". We have two of our own and are very happy.
Lots going on at work some of which may involve a transfer to Houston. We should know by the end of August. The thought of a new adventure is very appealing however training in the hot, humid, flat environment down there leaves something to be desired. I would likely have to change from a morning runner to an evening one as the weather at dusk is much more tolerable than the weather at dawn. If the job comes through it will require me to take my work to a whole new level. That is a good kind of challenge both personally and professionally.
So dog days, new dogs, and dogged pursuit of excellence. Time for a nap.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Injury, Recovery, Renewal
So I have been away awhile. The usual distractions and some health trouble.
My back injury took longer than it should have and then there was a knee...I have been struggling with some long term health challenges that seem to be on the mend as well. Basically, health problems and travel kept me out of the B&A Marathon in March. Then I missed the Frederick Marathon due more to travel than injury. Truth is I probably dodged a bullet there as it was very hot and anything less than my top condition would likely have resulted in my first marathon D.N.F.
Well now that I am feeling better again I am back to the training regimen. Starting slow and the heat is making certain of it. Today, ran an easy 6 on the B&A trail. Temps were in the upper 70's but the humidity and lack of any breeze meant an easy 6 became a little more challenging. Made it back in one piece.
So here I am, 12 pounds over race weight with 18 out of the next 30 days scheduled for overnight travel. Let's see what we can do with this.
My back injury took longer than it should have and then there was a knee...I have been struggling with some long term health challenges that seem to be on the mend as well. Basically, health problems and travel kept me out of the B&A Marathon in March. Then I missed the Frederick Marathon due more to travel than injury. Truth is I probably dodged a bullet there as it was very hot and anything less than my top condition would likely have resulted in my first marathon D.N.F.
Well now that I am feeling better again I am back to the training regimen. Starting slow and the heat is making certain of it. Today, ran an easy 6 on the B&A trail. Temps were in the upper 70's but the humidity and lack of any breeze meant an easy 6 became a little more challenging. Made it back in one piece.
So here I am, 12 pounds over race weight with 18 out of the next 30 days scheduled for overnight travel. Let's see what we can do with this.
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Walls Come Tumblin' Down
Put in a good 5 1/2 on Thursday in the warm sunshine. I left the office at lunch and got back in under an hour. I used the Kinder Park Trail which is finally drying out from the rain and the melt. There are still a few wet areas but everything is passable.
It's nice to see everyone getting back outside. All the play areas were full of kids and the benches evidenced that romance remains alive in Spring in Maryland! Couples were absolutely cooing over each other all around the park. Don't these people have jobs? Oh, I almost forgot the lunch hour, the double digit unemployment, and "the human desire to have you come near" captured by Mr. Mellencamp as the metaphorical walls come tumbling down.
Body is feeling alright but still going through the "ramp up" soreness phase of training. My back issues are diminishing but I have been slacking on the PT this week. Gotta get back on that today. Frederick seems a lot more realistic now than it did two weeks ago. I will take a rest from the road today and then have a go at a slow 8 on the B&A tomorrow. By next weekend I need to stretch the LSD out to at least 10 miles. Goo may be involved...and some pain.
One day at a time.
It's nice to see everyone getting back outside. All the play areas were full of kids and the benches evidenced that romance remains alive in Spring in Maryland! Couples were absolutely cooing over each other all around the park. Don't these people have jobs? Oh, I almost forgot the lunch hour, the double digit unemployment, and "the human desire to have you come near" captured by Mr. Mellencamp as the metaphorical walls come tumbling down.
Body is feeling alright but still going through the "ramp up" soreness phase of training. My back issues are diminishing but I have been slacking on the PT this week. Gotta get back on that today. Frederick seems a lot more realistic now than it did two weeks ago. I will take a rest from the road today and then have a go at a slow 8 on the B&A tomorrow. By next weekend I need to stretch the LSD out to at least 10 miles. Goo may be involved...and some pain.
One day at a time.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Searching for My Stride
So I got back on the horse last week and ran the following: Tuesday-3 miles, Wednesday-4 miles, Sunday-5 miles, and Tuesday-6 miles (that would be yesterday). Along the way there have been two physical therapy sessions in which I continue to see value.
I am pretty happy with where I am physically. Some leg and back soreness but no show stoppers. Also getting some weirdness in my left knee like a ligament is a little sore across the top of my kneecap.The first three outings were in mixed weather but yesterday was bursting with sunshine and temps near 60. Perfect. The water fountains have not been reopened at the B&A Ranger Station yet but the rest of the facility is open. That was my turn around point on my "out and back" six.
People are beginning to emerge from their winter hibernation and the trail was actually pretty busy for 1PM on a Tuesday. There were moms with strollers and old folks and even a few other runners. I didn't push too hard but managed 6 miles at about a 10 minute pace. Finished strong. I feel as though I am building my way back into shape. Maybe this weekend I will find my stride and do 8 or 10 miles while M is at school on Saturday.
Something new happened at the end of my run. It is my policy to never look behind me. I don't see where any good can come of it since I am always racing the clock (until the very end when I try and pass everyone I can!) So yesterday I was running along, stretching it out, and getting my rhythm back and...not looking behind me. I covered the last two hills on my return and cruised into my neighborhood, down a steep hill, and turned onto my street for the last, flat, quarter mile.
Chugging along, picking up the pace a bit, and feeling pretty good about myself with Van Halen blasting in the iPod and the sun beating down I was in my own world. Ahead I saw the mail truck pulling away from our box. I hit the driveway, iPod still cranked, and walked over to get the mail as part of my cool down. Mostly junk mail, a couple of bills, the Census...
Turning around to cross the street and head up to the house I was almost run over by a young guy in shorts and a Live Strong shirt. He must have been a hundred yards or so behind me for at least the last half mile. He was probably in his twenties and really flying. I would not have been happy to have been passed on my own street. It served as a reminder that I had better find my stride. I won't start looking back and I don't like getting passed. The running gods sent the message and I got it.
The beatings will continue until morale improves. More roadwork.
I am pretty happy with where I am physically. Some leg and back soreness but no show stoppers. Also getting some weirdness in my left knee like a ligament is a little sore across the top of my kneecap.The first three outings were in mixed weather but yesterday was bursting with sunshine and temps near 60. Perfect. The water fountains have not been reopened at the B&A Ranger Station yet but the rest of the facility is open. That was my turn around point on my "out and back" six.
People are beginning to emerge from their winter hibernation and the trail was actually pretty busy for 1PM on a Tuesday. There were moms with strollers and old folks and even a few other runners. I didn't push too hard but managed 6 miles at about a 10 minute pace. Finished strong. I feel as though I am building my way back into shape. Maybe this weekend I will find my stride and do 8 or 10 miles while M is at school on Saturday.
Something new happened at the end of my run. It is my policy to never look behind me. I don't see where any good can come of it since I am always racing the clock (until the very end when I try and pass everyone I can!) So yesterday I was running along, stretching it out, and getting my rhythm back and...not looking behind me. I covered the last two hills on my return and cruised into my neighborhood, down a steep hill, and turned onto my street for the last, flat, quarter mile.
Chugging along, picking up the pace a bit, and feeling pretty good about myself with Van Halen blasting in the iPod and the sun beating down I was in my own world. Ahead I saw the mail truck pulling away from our box. I hit the driveway, iPod still cranked, and walked over to get the mail as part of my cool down. Mostly junk mail, a couple of bills, the Census...
Turning around to cross the street and head up to the house I was almost run over by a young guy in shorts and a Live Strong shirt. He must have been a hundred yards or so behind me for at least the last half mile. He was probably in his twenties and really flying. I would not have been happy to have been passed on my own street. It served as a reminder that I had better find my stride. I won't start looking back and I don't like getting passed. The running gods sent the message and I got it.
The beatings will continue until morale improves. More roadwork.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Down But Not Out
OK so it's been a while since I posted. There have been a few distractions. After the strong showing at Houston I took a week off the road. Work was very busy and I had some mega travel coming up including a business trip to Brazil.
My next race was not until March and I felt I could use the rest. If I restarted my running on the Brazil trip I could tune up over the few weeks before the B&A in March and put in a respectable showing on the flat home course. Plus I would write this great blog post about running in the Southern hemisphere in the sun with the beautiful Brazileans...It was not to be however.
Brazil was beautiful and hot and hilly (I was in a town called Belo Horizonte where our company has a large factory). The area where we were staying was very nice but only for a few blocks in every direction. The site was chosen more for its proximity to the factory than for its runner friendliness. Additionally we were on a very tight schedule which left little time during daylight hours for anything but work. Bottom line...no running occurred in Brazil.
Meanwhile back at the ranch a little snow was falling. Then a little more. Then a little more. You get the idea. The winter of 09/10 in the Mid Atlantic was one for the books, literally. The weather was so bad I got stuck in Houston for an extra day and a half on the return trip and wound up watching the Super Bowl at my hotel. A new low for the time honored tradition in my experience. Once again, location of the hotel (out by Bush Intercontinental Airport so not much in the way of running room) was against me and no running. Are we seeing a theme developing here?
So I finally get home and find 36 inches of snow blanketing the homestead, the surrounding counties, and every road and trail for miles. It was cold too. Very cold. Translation-no running. But wait, the best is yet to come. There was another wave of snow the second week I was back. Full of guilt over my wife having to deal with the first one pretty much on her own while I basked in the Brazilian summer sun I was determined to make this storm as painless as possible. And it was. For her.
I am 43. Not 33 or 23 but 43. While I consider myself in good shape for a man my age a man my age should think twice before shoveling a 165 foot driveway by himself when it is covered in 12-18 inches of heavy wet snow. I was almost done. Really. I mean I was down to the last scoop or two when it happened. Tossing a shovel load of the white stuff into the hedge I wrenched my back, dropped to my knees, and said words not fit for print. I knew I was in trouble.
Two weeks later I broke down and went to the Dr. I am told this is not unusual for the 43 year old male of the species (both the injury and the reluctance to seek treatment). I could only walk with the use of a cane and things were not improving. An MRI revealed 2 bulging discs in my lower back. Prescription? Physical Therapy which of course I have all kinds of time for...NOT. It was about here that I realized (this is like a week before the B&A Trail Marathon and the snow is still everywhere) that I was not going to be running. It was a disappointment. I have gone into races both prepared and unprepared but I have always run. This was the first time I could not run. I could barely walk.
So Physical Therapy...I have always been a fast healer so this was a first for me. I must say I was skeptical but a week into it the exercises are actually helping. When I told the therapist my recovery goal was to run a marathon in 8 weeks (Frederick where I ran a PB 4:36:25 last year) she said something like "Great, heh heh, uh OK?". She just doesn't know me.
The good news is that she said I could run if it didn't hurt. I am pretty sure she said if it didn't hurt too bad. So I ran and it did hurt a little but definitely not too bad. I managed an easy 3 on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday. Then, guess what happened! God sent rain. A lot of rain. Biblical rain. My basement is soaked, there is a small pond in my neighbor's front yard, and, you got it, no running. (Just wanted to say that I don't mind running in the rain but it was in the 50's and coming down in buckets and I figured better not to get pneumonia on top of the the PT back recovery, haven't run in 6 weeks thing...just saying).
Today however it is not raining hard and it's Sunday which I often use for an LSD run. LSD at this point in my training is probably 5 miles. Sheesh - it used to be in the high teens. I am planning on hitting the trail as soon as the temp breaks into the 50's. I have a little less than 2 months to pull it together for the hilliest Marathon on my schedule. I can do it.
See you on the trail.
My next race was not until March and I felt I could use the rest. If I restarted my running on the Brazil trip I could tune up over the few weeks before the B&A in March and put in a respectable showing on the flat home course. Plus I would write this great blog post about running in the Southern hemisphere in the sun with the beautiful Brazileans...It was not to be however.
Brazil was beautiful and hot and hilly (I was in a town called Belo Horizonte where our company has a large factory). The area where we were staying was very nice but only for a few blocks in every direction. The site was chosen more for its proximity to the factory than for its runner friendliness. Additionally we were on a very tight schedule which left little time during daylight hours for anything but work. Bottom line...no running occurred in Brazil.
Meanwhile back at the ranch a little snow was falling. Then a little more. Then a little more. You get the idea. The winter of 09/10 in the Mid Atlantic was one for the books, literally. The weather was so bad I got stuck in Houston for an extra day and a half on the return trip and wound up watching the Super Bowl at my hotel. A new low for the time honored tradition in my experience. Once again, location of the hotel (out by Bush Intercontinental Airport so not much in the way of running room) was against me and no running. Are we seeing a theme developing here?
So I finally get home and find 36 inches of snow blanketing the homestead, the surrounding counties, and every road and trail for miles. It was cold too. Very cold. Translation-no running. But wait, the best is yet to come. There was another wave of snow the second week I was back. Full of guilt over my wife having to deal with the first one pretty much on her own while I basked in the Brazilian summer sun I was determined to make this storm as painless as possible. And it was. For her.
I am 43. Not 33 or 23 but 43. While I consider myself in good shape for a man my age a man my age should think twice before shoveling a 165 foot driveway by himself when it is covered in 12-18 inches of heavy wet snow. I was almost done. Really. I mean I was down to the last scoop or two when it happened. Tossing a shovel load of the white stuff into the hedge I wrenched my back, dropped to my knees, and said words not fit for print. I knew I was in trouble.
Two weeks later I broke down and went to the Dr. I am told this is not unusual for the 43 year old male of the species (both the injury and the reluctance to seek treatment). I could only walk with the use of a cane and things were not improving. An MRI revealed 2 bulging discs in my lower back. Prescription? Physical Therapy which of course I have all kinds of time for...NOT. It was about here that I realized (this is like a week before the B&A Trail Marathon and the snow is still everywhere) that I was not going to be running. It was a disappointment. I have gone into races both prepared and unprepared but I have always run. This was the first time I could not run. I could barely walk.
So Physical Therapy...I have always been a fast healer so this was a first for me. I must say I was skeptical but a week into it the exercises are actually helping. When I told the therapist my recovery goal was to run a marathon in 8 weeks (Frederick where I ran a PB 4:36:25 last year) she said something like "Great, heh heh, uh OK?". She just doesn't know me.
The good news is that she said I could run if it didn't hurt. I am pretty sure she said if it didn't hurt too bad. So I ran and it did hurt a little but definitely not too bad. I managed an easy 3 on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday. Then, guess what happened! God sent rain. A lot of rain. Biblical rain. My basement is soaked, there is a small pond in my neighbor's front yard, and, you got it, no running. (Just wanted to say that I don't mind running in the rain but it was in the 50's and coming down in buckets and I figured better not to get pneumonia on top of the the PT back recovery, haven't run in 6 weeks thing...just saying).
Today however it is not raining hard and it's Sunday which I often use for an LSD run. LSD at this point in my training is probably 5 miles. Sheesh - it used to be in the high teens. I am planning on hitting the trail as soon as the temp breaks into the 50's. I have a little less than 2 months to pull it together for the hilliest Marathon on my schedule. I can do it.
See you on the trail.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Seamstress and the Sexagenarian
Something unexpected happened in Houston last week. Things started out normally enough with Michelle accompanying me to the race. However, we had to split up early as this marathon asks the runners to stage in an area where supporters cannot join. In Baltimore and Frederick we were allowed to stay together. Also, Houston is not an "Eastern" city to which we are accustomed. There were not shops and restaurants all around for Michelle to haunt while I was running. Add to that the 5:30 arrival time for a 7AM and she was quite on her own and without distraction for more than 5 hours.
Not a problem but, as it turns out, an opportunity. Michelle has always made acquaintances easily. She is forthright and honest and uninhibited in sharing her views. These qualities lend themselves to making friends easily with folks who share them and Michelle ran across just such a person in Mrs. Lippencott of the Houston Lippencotts. While I did not get the pleasure of meeting her on this trip it appears only a matter of time. Here is what happened...
After the race started it occurred to Michelle that she hadn't had a bite to eat since dinner the night before. This is my fault as the selfish competitor who does not eat before he runs and is not thoughtful enough to provide for those there to support him. After the hoopla of the national anthem, the start gun, and the confetti had already begun to fade to memory she wandered off in search of breakfast. It is worth noting that the Houston course is laid out such that if you don't know the town and the attendant road closures your hopes of seeing any more than the start and finish are dim at best. So what to do for the next few hours? Eat and make a new friend.
Michelle found her way to the restaurant at the Sheraton attached to the Houston convention center which lay at the start/finish of the course. Seated near to her in the dining room were a group of women in their 60's. And what do you think they were talking about?? Quilting. Now any of you lucky enough to know my wife know that she loves to quilt. Further, she is pretty good at it. If she had her way, her sewing room would get more time than her employment (working on that). So when she overheard this conversation, her Capricorn came out and she chimed in from her table. The next thing she knew she was engaged in a conversation about quilting shows, hometowns, and what it's like to live in Houston. My work is considering relocating me their sometime in the future and Michelle has been learning about all things Houstonian, especially neighborhoods.
This is how she came to know Mrs. Lippencott.
Now if you are familiar with the Houston marathon and the name of Lippencott rings a bell is should. As the senior member of the Houston Marathon Veterans Club Mr. Lippencott has competed in 36 of the 37 runnings of this storied event; more than any other listed participant. He is also the accountant for the Houston fire department. In deference to his wife and the Houston traffic they get a room at the Sheraton overlooking the start/finish line so the Mrs. has a place to relax while the Mr. tends to business. I can scarce figure the odds of my wife (at our first ever Houston marathon on her first ever trip to Houston) meeting the wife of the elder statesman of the entire event and hitting it off right out of the gate.
Their chat in the restaurant soon turned into an invite up to the room at the hotel to continue on about quilting and Houston while below in the streets of town the runners toiled oblivious. Michelle said she was having a great time but was ready to go, not wanting to overstay her welcome. But, no. Houston hospitality was not to be outdone by Eastern sensitivity to time and place. Mrs. Lippencott insisted she stay on a bit longer to meet the grandchildren, which she did.
By the time Michelle left addresses had been exchanged and promises made to keep in touch and to attend next November's quilt expo (one of the largest in the country) in Houston later this year. We came to understand that our realtor may not have been as candid with us as he could and that we should expect to hear from this Houstonian about a better option. Mrs. Lippencott was candid and funny, honest and open. Just like my wife. I suspect that she shares Michelle's knack for making friends easily and I hope to meet her myself on our next trip to town.
I don't know where Mr. Lippencott finished the race. For all I know we were right next to each other the entire way. I was inwardly focused trying to win a race with a clock. Maybe he was too. We should both count our blessings that our wives were not. They are the real winners of the Houston marathon this year.
Not a problem but, as it turns out, an opportunity. Michelle has always made acquaintances easily. She is forthright and honest and uninhibited in sharing her views. These qualities lend themselves to making friends easily with folks who share them and Michelle ran across just such a person in Mrs. Lippencott of the Houston Lippencotts. While I did not get the pleasure of meeting her on this trip it appears only a matter of time. Here is what happened...
After the race started it occurred to Michelle that she hadn't had a bite to eat since dinner the night before. This is my fault as the selfish competitor who does not eat before he runs and is not thoughtful enough to provide for those there to support him. After the hoopla of the national anthem, the start gun, and the confetti had already begun to fade to memory she wandered off in search of breakfast. It is worth noting that the Houston course is laid out such that if you don't know the town and the attendant road closures your hopes of seeing any more than the start and finish are dim at best. So what to do for the next few hours? Eat and make a new friend.
Michelle found her way to the restaurant at the Sheraton attached to the Houston convention center which lay at the start/finish of the course. Seated near to her in the dining room were a group of women in their 60's. And what do you think they were talking about?? Quilting. Now any of you lucky enough to know my wife know that she loves to quilt. Further, she is pretty good at it. If she had her way, her sewing room would get more time than her employment (working on that). So when she overheard this conversation, her Capricorn came out and she chimed in from her table. The next thing she knew she was engaged in a conversation about quilting shows, hometowns, and what it's like to live in Houston. My work is considering relocating me their sometime in the future and Michelle has been learning about all things Houstonian, especially neighborhoods.
This is how she came to know Mrs. Lippencott.
Now if you are familiar with the Houston marathon and the name of Lippencott rings a bell is should. As the senior member of the Houston Marathon Veterans Club Mr. Lippencott has competed in 36 of the 37 runnings of this storied event; more than any other listed participant. He is also the accountant for the Houston fire department. In deference to his wife and the Houston traffic they get a room at the Sheraton overlooking the start/finish line so the Mrs. has a place to relax while the Mr. tends to business. I can scarce figure the odds of my wife (at our first ever Houston marathon on her first ever trip to Houston) meeting the wife of the elder statesman of the entire event and hitting it off right out of the gate.
Their chat in the restaurant soon turned into an invite up to the room at the hotel to continue on about quilting and Houston while below in the streets of town the runners toiled oblivious. Michelle said she was having a great time but was ready to go, not wanting to overstay her welcome. But, no. Houston hospitality was not to be outdone by Eastern sensitivity to time and place. Mrs. Lippencott insisted she stay on a bit longer to meet the grandchildren, which she did.
By the time Michelle left addresses had been exchanged and promises made to keep in touch and to attend next November's quilt expo (one of the largest in the country) in Houston later this year. We came to understand that our realtor may not have been as candid with us as he could and that we should expect to hear from this Houstonian about a better option. Mrs. Lippencott was candid and funny, honest and open. Just like my wife. I suspect that she shares Michelle's knack for making friends easily and I hope to meet her myself on our next trip to town.
I don't know where Mr. Lippencott finished the race. For all I know we were right next to each other the entire way. I was inwardly focused trying to win a race with a clock. Maybe he was too. We should both count our blessings that our wives were not. They are the real winners of the Houston marathon this year.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Unexpected
I ran Houston on 1.17.2010 in 4:19:19 (Chip time).
It was a personal best. I have never run faster or with so many people. The first three miles were at a greater than 10 minute pace due to the crowding of the runners. Houston is also the first marathon where I "ran" the entire distance. Other than walking through the drink stations (which I must do to get the fluids in me not on me) I never stopped or walked on the course.
There was a period around mile twenty when I had become very tired. The course clocks and my own watch (the Omega my dad gave me for making Eagle Scout 28 years ago) let me know that I was on pace to crush my previous PB of 4:30:32. But even that goal seemed to pale in comparison to just a few minutes rest. As usual by this point in the race many others had already given in to temptation. To have let up would have been inconspicuous, even seemed normal. Most everyone in front of me was walking.
Behind me, I overheard a group of lady runners encouraging each other to push on.Their leaders disembodied voice traveled to my ears through the fog of self doubt, "These are the difficult miles. You will will want to give in. Don't. Relax into your running and just keep putting one foot in front of the other".
And that's what I did. It was the right advice at the right time and it changed my running maybe for ever. Suddenly I found a pace that I could hang onto. I knew I could finish strong and I felt better than I ever have at that point in a marathon. It was a really good place for me to find myself and has me thinking about many other aspects of my running and my life.
I have many other Houston stories to share but for today this is enough. I ran hard, I finished strong, and I didn't give up.
It was a personal best. I have never run faster or with so many people. The first three miles were at a greater than 10 minute pace due to the crowding of the runners. Houston is also the first marathon where I "ran" the entire distance. Other than walking through the drink stations (which I must do to get the fluids in me not on me) I never stopped or walked on the course.
There was a period around mile twenty when I had become very tired. The course clocks and my own watch (the Omega my dad gave me for making Eagle Scout 28 years ago) let me know that I was on pace to crush my previous PB of 4:30:32. But even that goal seemed to pale in comparison to just a few minutes rest. As usual by this point in the race many others had already given in to temptation. To have let up would have been inconspicuous, even seemed normal. Most everyone in front of me was walking.
Behind me, I overheard a group of lady runners encouraging each other to push on.Their leaders disembodied voice traveled to my ears through the fog of self doubt, "These are the difficult miles. You will will want to give in. Don't. Relax into your running and just keep putting one foot in front of the other".
And that's what I did. It was the right advice at the right time and it changed my running maybe for ever. Suddenly I found a pace that I could hang onto. I knew I could finish strong and I felt better than I ever have at that point in a marathon. It was a really good place for me to find myself and has me thinking about many other aspects of my running and my life.
I have many other Houston stories to share but for today this is enough. I ran hard, I finished strong, and I didn't give up.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
One Week to Go
It's one week till Houston and I don't feel prepared. I have been so busy with travel and office work I barely got in any training at all (11 1/2 miles this week over 2 days). The weather has made it even more challenging with temperatures rarely above 30F. Even as I write this I can hear the "whine" factor. The truth is we make choices about how to spend our time; what we are committed to. This week I made a commitment to work over running. I will have to live with the consequences of that decision.
Maybe running winter marathons is just not a good fit for me. The days are short and the weeks are full of holidays, home improvement projects, football games, and reading. Perhaps winter should be the "downtime" where I give my body and mind permission to not worry about roadwork and catch up on the rest of my life.
That said, my next race after Houston is in March (before winter officially ends) so I will have to find a way to make it work this year and count it as a lesson learned for the future. I may try and get a few miles in today even though the forecast high is 29F and I still have a million things to get done around the house before going back to work on Monday.
The next 4 weeks represent a period of almost constant travel. Richmond, Baltimore, Houston, York, Brazil, Pittsburgh, and then it will be Valentines day and 4 weeks before the next marathon. Looking at it that way I better find a way to train. In all honesty this is pretty typical behavior for me. Over load and then manage. I have tried to reduce my workload and thus my stress level but somehow I find greater happiness in the anxious chaos than in the serene satisfaction of contemplative balance.
Maybe running winter marathons is just not a good fit for me. The days are short and the weeks are full of holidays, home improvement projects, football games, and reading. Perhaps winter should be the "downtime" where I give my body and mind permission to not worry about roadwork and catch up on the rest of my life.
That said, my next race after Houston is in March (before winter officially ends) so I will have to find a way to make it work this year and count it as a lesson learned for the future. I may try and get a few miles in today even though the forecast high is 29F and I still have a million things to get done around the house before going back to work on Monday.
The next 4 weeks represent a period of almost constant travel. Richmond, Baltimore, Houston, York, Brazil, Pittsburgh, and then it will be Valentines day and 4 weeks before the next marathon. Looking at it that way I better find a way to train. In all honesty this is pretty typical behavior for me. Over load and then manage. I have tried to reduce my workload and thus my stress level but somehow I find greater happiness in the anxious chaos than in the serene satisfaction of contemplative balance.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Rest Day in New York
It was a beautiful day in NYC. Cold but clear. Great day for work and after three straight days running I was ready for a recovery day. One more day of travel before returning home getting back to race prep.
With eleven days before Houston I should really be tapering but my plan is to do a short run on Thursday, rest Friday, and then ten miles Saturday. We'll see how I feel after that. My usual pre race paranoia about not being able to finish is in full bloom.
Trying to watch what I eat leading up to the race but eating on the road always presents challenges. I probably need to work on my diet as much as my roadwork to take my running to the next level. If only there were 48 hours in the day I could get to all this. Instead, it's up early and late to bed. Keep forwarding the "to do" list items till they finally get crossed off.
In some ways I think that mentality is what makes me want to run marathons. Never quit, keep going, you can handle more...
With eleven days before Houston I should really be tapering but my plan is to do a short run on Thursday, rest Friday, and then ten miles Saturday. We'll see how I feel after that. My usual pre race paranoia about not being able to finish is in full bloom.
Trying to watch what I eat leading up to the race but eating on the road always presents challenges. I probably need to work on my diet as much as my roadwork to take my running to the next level. If only there were 48 hours in the day I could get to all this. Instead, it's up early and late to bed. Keep forwarding the "to do" list items till they finally get crossed off.
In some ways I think that mentality is what makes me want to run marathons. Never quit, keep going, you can handle more...
Monday, January 4, 2010
One for the road
Today was my first day back to work after an eleven day staycation. Even though I was home and could have squeezed in a work out or two the weather, company, and the general laziness that often attends the holidays had taken its toll. Additionally, in spite of my keeping up with email and voice mail from my home office throughout my time off, the maelstrom of new problems and issues and crises spewed unabated from my phone and computer until well after 6PM.
I travel a lot for work; usually on the order of 10+ nights per month. This makes training challenging especially in winter when the days are short, the nights are cold, and the prospect of going for a run in a strange area at 8PM leaves much to be desired. I have a train to NYC tomorrow for two quick days before heading back home. Even though I love to run in the city I know it won't happen on this whirlwind business trip. Actually some of my best running memories are of Central Park but in June not January.
So, in spite of the craziness in the office (and in spite of the continuing cold snap) I tied up the Brooks, put on the knit cap and trudged off for five and a half miles of hills under an ashen sky. The predicted snow flurries never materialized but they may as well have. At least it will relieve my guilt at not running over the next two days. I could probably use the recovery time.
So today's run was "one for the road". It will have to hold me till I return safe and sound Wednesday night.
I travel a lot for work; usually on the order of 10+ nights per month. This makes training challenging especially in winter when the days are short, the nights are cold, and the prospect of going for a run in a strange area at 8PM leaves much to be desired. I have a train to NYC tomorrow for two quick days before heading back home. Even though I love to run in the city I know it won't happen on this whirlwind business trip. Actually some of my best running memories are of Central Park but in June not January.
So, in spite of the craziness in the office (and in spite of the continuing cold snap) I tied up the Brooks, put on the knit cap and trudged off for five and a half miles of hills under an ashen sky. The predicted snow flurries never materialized but they may as well have. At least it will relieve my guilt at not running over the next two days. I could probably use the recovery time.
So today's run was "one for the road". It will have to hold me till I return safe and sound Wednesday night.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Committed
So it's 2AM and I am up as usual. Normally I fall asleep around 9 or 10PM and then wake around now for an hour or so then back to bed till 5. During these quiet morning hours I usually catch up on work email or do some reading. This crazy sleep schedule just developed over time as I got older.
This morning, however, I am going to take care of the registrations for my 2010 marathons. I am already running the Houston later this month so I need three more. I will repeat Frederick (May 2nd) and Baltimore (October 16th) and have added the B&A Trail marathon scheduled for March 7th. This is a first for me and the race covers the trail that I usually use for training.
By running the Frederick and Baltimore in the same year I will qualify for something called the Maryland Double. To prove that I "can be taught"...this year I remembered to sign up for both together instead of having to ask for my extra medal and certificate after the fact (2009, very embarrassing...it was like, can't you read and complete a simple form???).
So now here I am $200 poorer (discounts for registering early and for the double were taken!) but locked into a schedule that should keep me running and racing through October.
Is it crazy to run 4 marathons in a year? I don't think so. But it will be hard and take a commitment to training. I know with the support of my family I can do it. Run smarter to go faster is the goal this year. One race at a time.
Houston, B&A Trail, Frederick, and Baltimore. Looks like a pretty good year.
This morning, however, I am going to take care of the registrations for my 2010 marathons. I am already running the Houston later this month so I need three more. I will repeat Frederick (May 2nd) and Baltimore (October 16th) and have added the B&A Trail marathon scheduled for March 7th. This is a first for me and the race covers the trail that I usually use for training.
By running the Frederick and Baltimore in the same year I will qualify for something called the Maryland Double. To prove that I "can be taught"...this year I remembered to sign up for both together instead of having to ask for my extra medal and certificate after the fact (2009, very embarrassing...it was like, can't you read and complete a simple form???).
So now here I am $200 poorer (discounts for registering early and for the double were taken!) but locked into a schedule that should keep me running and racing through October.
Is it crazy to run 4 marathons in a year? I don't think so. But it will be hard and take a commitment to training. I know with the support of my family I can do it. Run smarter to go faster is the goal this year. One race at a time.
Houston, B&A Trail, Frederick, and Baltimore. Looks like a pretty good year.
Six miles in the winter sun with a spare tire
Slipped out after lunch for a quick six miler. The Ravens play at 4PM so it worked out well. Prepared better with my cold gear and made good time (6 x 8:45). The air temp was 24F and the wind gusted above 22 mph. Another very (not brutally) cold run.
There were a few other runners out there taking advantage of the sun but not many. I love the summer but something about the sun slung low above the horizon at mid day and the pale blue of an early winter sky makes it nice to be outside. The cold isn't so bad if you prepare for it properly. It's amazing how much of a sweat you can work up at 24 degrees!
A word about weight...I am 5'9" and when I was in my teens and twenties I was always very thin. My weight ranged between 118lbs and 125lbs. In my thirties it began to creep up into the 130's. In my late thirties I hit the gym and bulked up to around 165lbs (I know this sound high but I was in pretty good shape-I had never been stronger and did not look overweight).
After a few years of marathoning I find my ideal race weight seems to be around 152lbs. Not too big and not too small. I was around 155lbs when I ran San Antonio in November. Unfortunately after being off for most of the last 30 days with holidays and vacation, not running much, and being in the "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" mode since Thanksgiving I now weigh 163 1/2lbs!! It's not a pretty picture. M and I are buckling down at the grocery and I am forcing myself back into regular roadwork. While this blog is about running and not about weight loss, for me they are closely tied together. I am sure it will come up from time to time.
Anyway, in the interest of full disclosure I wanted to offer up the benchmark and the sad truth that at 42 years old I have to watch what I eat in ways I never had to before and appreciate that my body handles it differently.
More road work if your going for the ice cream...but then what's life without ice cream?
There were a few other runners out there taking advantage of the sun but not many. I love the summer but something about the sun slung low above the horizon at mid day and the pale blue of an early winter sky makes it nice to be outside. The cold isn't so bad if you prepare for it properly. It's amazing how much of a sweat you can work up at 24 degrees!
A word about weight...I am 5'9" and when I was in my teens and twenties I was always very thin. My weight ranged between 118lbs and 125lbs. In my thirties it began to creep up into the 130's. In my late thirties I hit the gym and bulked up to around 165lbs (I know this sound high but I was in pretty good shape-I had never been stronger and did not look overweight).
After a few years of marathoning I find my ideal race weight seems to be around 152lbs. Not too big and not too small. I was around 155lbs when I ran San Antonio in November. Unfortunately after being off for most of the last 30 days with holidays and vacation, not running much, and being in the "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" mode since Thanksgiving I now weigh 163 1/2lbs!! It's not a pretty picture. M and I are buckling down at the grocery and I am forcing myself back into regular roadwork. While this blog is about running and not about weight loss, for me they are closely tied together. I am sure it will come up from time to time.
Anyway, in the interest of full disclosure I wanted to offer up the benchmark and the sad truth that at 42 years old I have to watch what I eat in ways I never had to before and appreciate that my body handles it differently.
More road work if your going for the ice cream...but then what's life without ice cream?
Two Weeks to go
This year I will attempt to keep a blog of my running. I started taking running a little more seriously about four years ago as a way to improve my health and reduce stress. Each year since I have gone a little farther in my commitment running one marathon in 2007 and 2008 and three marathons last year. This year I am registering for four.
My PB is 4:30:32 which I ran in San Antonio in November, 2009.
In two weeks I have the Houston Marathon (the first time I have run that race). I had very high hopes of a personal best since the course is flat and the temperatures will likely be cool. However, the holidays, snowy weather, and long office hours resulted in an average of less than 10 miles of running a week over the last 2 months. Translation: once again Patrick will be trying to "finish" not to improve his race time. I have never been a "race planner" employing a strategy and some refined technique. Mostly I am a guts racer who decides I will finish by first deciding I will not quit. Grimmacing and serious self doubt are frequently involved and overcome.
This year I hope to change some of that. I would like to qualify for Boston (3:30) before I am 46 years old. I will turn 43 in a few weeks. Guts racing won't get me there. It's time to work smarter and harder. I figure a blog might help me maintain some focus and maybe bring some readers along for the ride.
Yesterday I ran 5 1/2 rolling Anne Arundel County Suburban Hills in the park near home. It's a run I make all the time. However, this time it was 25 degrees and windy. Very windy. Even with my UA tights, knit hat, and gloves when I got to the hill tops I felt like I was going to freeze in place. I think the tears streaming from my sunglass covered eyes may have left a path of tiny snow flakes in my wake.
Note to self: trendy thermal undershirt is not equal to UA cold gear.
Also, my Brooks continue to give me trouble. More on that another day. Suffice it to say that the old shoe addage about "the more you pay the more trouble you have" applies. Never wanted to be an "equipment geek" but I may have to make an exception regarding my running shoes.
Well, let's see where this all goes. If you don't run maybe give it a try. If you do run keep going!
In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never Give In"
My PB is 4:30:32 which I ran in San Antonio in November, 2009.
In two weeks I have the Houston Marathon (the first time I have run that race). I had very high hopes of a personal best since the course is flat and the temperatures will likely be cool. However, the holidays, snowy weather, and long office hours resulted in an average of less than 10 miles of running a week over the last 2 months. Translation: once again Patrick will be trying to "finish" not to improve his race time. I have never been a "race planner" employing a strategy and some refined technique. Mostly I am a guts racer who decides I will finish by first deciding I will not quit. Grimmacing and serious self doubt are frequently involved and overcome.
This year I hope to change some of that. I would like to qualify for Boston (3:30) before I am 46 years old. I will turn 43 in a few weeks. Guts racing won't get me there. It's time to work smarter and harder. I figure a blog might help me maintain some focus and maybe bring some readers along for the ride.
Yesterday I ran 5 1/2 rolling Anne Arundel County Suburban Hills in the park near home. It's a run I make all the time. However, this time it was 25 degrees and windy. Very windy. Even with my UA tights, knit hat, and gloves when I got to the hill tops I felt like I was going to freeze in place. I think the tears streaming from my sunglass covered eyes may have left a path of tiny snow flakes in my wake.
Note to self: trendy thermal undershirt is not equal to UA cold gear.
Also, my Brooks continue to give me trouble. More on that another day. Suffice it to say that the old shoe addage about "the more you pay the more trouble you have" applies. Never wanted to be an "equipment geek" but I may have to make an exception regarding my running shoes.
Well, let's see where this all goes. If you don't run maybe give it a try. If you do run keep going!
In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never Give In"
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