Toe Hold

When I was in my 20's I had a go at technical rock climbing. I never did anything at any serious altitude. Mostly some friends and I would head out to an old quarried wall maybe 50-60 feet tall and do some top roping and repelling. While the pitch was short the climbing was quite difficult as there was little purchase for hands or feet. I remember thinking I will never summit this wall. And I never did. There were two reasons I failed in those attempts at climbing that wall.


First, I psyched myself out. I let every little fear and concern stop me. Would I fall? Would I get hurt? Would I embarrass myself? This is the mind game every athlete, especially extreme or endurance athletes, face. The battle of the mind. You might enjoy some short term successes without control over your mind but if you can't manage those demons, find a still steady place, and believe you will succeed you will never get to the top of whatever wall you are trying to climb.

The second reason I failed was that I didn't train to win. Sure, I did some yoga and read books about climbing, but did I strength train? Did I do cardio? Did I manage my diet and rest appropriately? No. No. And No. Small wonder then that all those Saturdays ended in disappointment and several conciliatory beers at the bar up the trail. We had a lot of fun, but in the end, my competitive spirit became frustrated with my la ti da approach and I walked away from the sport altogether. Worse, it took me 10 years before I re engaged in my own health and started running marathons.

So now, after not doing any serious training for the last 2 years I am trying to get back in the game. I have managed to run each of the last 3 weeks and I am restructuring my schedule where I can to get more road time in. I feel like I am back on that rock wall with my harness on, a few feet off the ground, and groping with my feet for a toe hold. Just to get that leg up and to the next level. I know I won't make it without attitude and training. One day at a time.

My Shoes are a Year Old

So it has been a year since I bought my current pair of running shoes.Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that since they are still in "like new" condition not much has happened on the running front in the past 12 months. Seems like I have been stuck in the start-stop mode in my running all year. Granted I have taken on some big projects at work, traveled all over the world (still haven't made it to the far east yet), and added two grandchildren to the family.

But still, a year old and no tread wear.

So I ran yesterday and it felt OK. I ran again today and it felt better. I restructured my department at work in the hopes that I can get down to 60 hours a week and have better control over my travel. AND I have been scouting runs around the area that look like a lot of fun...they just get interesting at 5+ miles so I will have to train up to them. I even bought a copy of Runner's World yesterday. That always inspires me.

I haven't canceled this blog yet. Maybe that's a good sign. At any rate only time will tell if I am headed to the shoe store in 2 months or if these guys will last 2 years. I have hopes of running 1200 miles this year but am already around 200 miles in the hole. You will know how it turns out shortly after I find the wherewithal to share.

Focus

It would seem the theme of this blog could be best characterized as "focus"; or better still lack of same.

Run. Do not Run. There is no try. (I am paraphrasing Yoda here but you get the idea). If I was Luke Skywalker the X Wing would definitely still be in the swamp. I managed an not so pretty three on Friday morning and made it out again today for a 4 miler. It is hot and cruddy here but I always feel good after beating the heat and finishing. The trouble is I could very well wake up tomorrow and bale on the workout with some excuse about getting to work early (or on time) etc.

The thing about focus is that you can't focus on everything at once. Everything cannot be important or else nothing is. And I have been working on some other stuff pretty hard lately. Work is one. Quality time with the wife. Reading a lot of books. All good stuff. However running and yoga go together for me and I think I am better when I am running than when I am not. It decompresses me, gives me time to think, and it is something I am proud to do. I like to compete even if it is only to finish.

So at the risk of sounding like a broken record I will regain focus (there is no try). I need to pick an event to work toward and probably need to return to my diet and workout log. Michelle asked about that the other day and was surprised I had stopped keeping the journal. That surprised me back so maybe I need to pick it up again.

At any rate you will know shortly after I do whether or not I succeed.

How could you not run in Salt Lake City?

So I travel A LOT for work. During said travel I see a lot of airports, rental cars, hotels, meeting spaces, restaurants, stop-pivot-reverse.

As unglamorous as it sounds (because it is not glamorous) there are occasional bright spots along the way. The greatest of which is usually the people I meet. This picture shows my West Region sales team at the dinner we hosted for them last Wednesday. Salt Lake City was beautiful, the weather was great, and while the food at this brew pub was less than hoped for the libations exceeded the diners expectations!

I really enjoyed every one's company and we talked about everything from grand kids to international business opportunities. My kind of dinner chat. So I guess this is a long way of saying that days that start at Oh Dark Thirty getting to the airport and ends with a dinner with colleagues doesn't always allow for getting a run in...even in a great training location like SLC, Utah. But, not to worry, I got back on the road this past weekend. More on that little adventure in my next posting.

Vector Analysis

Three days out from my Denver run and no roadwork. I am a little disappointed that I couldn't get out the door in the mornings to pick up at least 3 or 4 miles. But the truth is that the 12 hour days at the office, the intense heat and humidity, and the "stuff" that eats up my morning (yoga, dogs, surfing the web, some writing) get me to 6:30 or 7:00AM before I know it. In fact, as I write this it is 6:26 and I still need to grab a shower and dress for work.

OK so I admit this doesn't show much commitment to my running. That's what's so disappointing I guess. But, on the other hand, the things I am doing instead are pretty positive (maybe a little less web surfing). It almost seems that business travel offers fewer distractions than being at home in the morning. At this point in my life I have a pretty good sense of what my interests are (they are broad) and how I want to spend my time. The trick is to find balance between those two powerful vectors. At this point that challenge remains.

I will try and get on the road tomorrow (Saturday) when I have don't have to go into the office early. Maybe the best I can hope for is Sat/Sun/and one day TBD each week. That won't get me back to marathoning though and that's the goal. Need to find one more day.

So right now most of my week is spent looking for balance. I am the "resultant" of my two power vectors. My head is on the road but my butt is not. Time is a thief and life is a pageant.

Denver

Traveled to Denver on business this week and got a 3 miler in this morning. Urban running is a mixed bag for me. I love the scenery and the people but the "stop and go" is a real pain. I was expecting to feel the effects of the thinner air but I took it easy and it wasn't too bad at all. It didn't hurt that the weather was just about perfect; sunny and temps in the 70's with no humidity.

Ran in my Vibrams because they are so easy to pack. I thought there would be issues running on the paved surfaces. Fortunately Denver takes great care of its sidewalks and I had no problems. In fact it felt pretty good.

The only negative is that my back was a little sore from the hotel bed and I had to mind my gait until things loosened up. I wasn't able to yoga first as I was committed to some morning meetings.

As I write this I am looking out my 19th story hotel window at the snow capped Rockies. Maybe on my next trip out here I can arrange a run up there. I can only imagine right now what it would be like on the steep terrain and thin air. There are glaciers and right now is the beginning of the "melt" so it probably looks incredible. Michelle has inspired me to start bringing my camera on these trips again. I misplaced my charger so I don't have it for this one. Maybe in the future I will be able to include some pics of my runs.

Denver was great and I would enjoy a return.

Back to Houston this afternoon. Can't wait to get home!

Humidity

Hit the road around 8:30AM today and stretched to about 4 1/2 miles. The air was "close" which is to say brutally humid. My shirt was soaked in the first 10 minutes and it was pretty much a steady dehydrate from there. At the suggestion of a neighbor I changed up my route a little and headed out past several lakes in the community before heading for home on the nature trail.

Skipped the Yoga this morning but will get it in this afternoon. I have a short road trip up to Denver tomorrow early returning late Tuesday so Monday will be a "rest/recover day". I am hoping to get a little roadwork in Tuesday morning at altitude and see how it feels and am bringing my Vibrams so that will add to the "experience". I love wearing them but running comfort is very dependent on the road surface.

Weight was down to 155.4 today which is a recent low. Staying off the meat and alcohol but carb loaded today after only having a danish and some fruit yesterday.

YES!

I did manage to get out of the house this morning and 45 minutes later staggered back having run 4 miles in the tropical morning. The sun was bright and the air was close. I passed the last of the inbound Bridgeland Running Club as I headed out toward the nature trail. The mile through the woods on the gravel path was the easiest owing to the relief from the sun and the soft surface.

Today on the road I listened to a podcast of This American Life titled "Life After Death". It interviewed folks who were responsible for (though not "guilty of") causing the death of another and how they lived with that afterward. Like hitting a cyclist with your car but it wasn't your fault. It gave some insight into the baggage we all carry around. As we live our lives our interactions with others connect us to places and people we might never have imagined in our wildest dreams. Some of it is our direct action and some you chalk up to the law of unintended consequences. We all make good choices and bad. It's how we live with them after that demonstrates our character.

I am 44 and I have done and seen my share of right things and wrong things. There are some I would change or have done differently but in the end life has turned out alright. I have a wife and children who love me and who I love. I am challenged in my career. I finally am beginning to understand what is possible and not just what is necessary. Life seems limitless and yet I am more aware than ever that my clock is ticking. I am probably past the "half way" mark and there is so much I want to do.

Amazing what a 4 miler can get you thinking about when you haven't run in a while.

Is this just a "drop in"?

Well that job came through...and now we live in Houston. Cypress actually. Running has all but stopped but I have traveled half way around the world and now have more responsibility than I ever imagined I would at work.

Home life has gone through some major changes as a result of the relocation. Michelle and I are now on our own (with our two dogs) here in Texas while all our kids and grand kids (we have two new ones on the way that should arrive in December) are back in Maryland. Suffice it to say that we buy a lot of plane tickets for us AND them.

Life is very full and fulfilling but I miss the workouts and I especially miss the races. I ran a "Warrior Dash" a few months ago which was fun but more about the atmosphere than the race. I am in better health than I have been in a long time if not better shape. We have all but given up on meat and alcohol and sleep is more regular than ever.

This job is never routine but having adjusted to that over the last 8 months may mean I can take another stab at the roadwork. The weather is challenging and the time is difficult to find but I think I need this back in my life. We are just back from vacation in Maryland (Ocean City) and tomorrow is Saturday. Will I get up and go for a run?

We'll see.

The Dog Days

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.