Hurt

“I . . . hurt myself today”
-Nine Inch Nails

I love this song, but unfortunately I do not like to quote it here.  Last week, after taking a much needed break from running, I decided to get out for an easy jog on Capitol Hill.  I didn’t push myself, I didn’t run at the fastest pace I could, and I didn’t try anything new.  But yet it still happened.  Almost finished with my run, I felt the twinge in my knee.  I wasn’t even trying.  My knee just didn’t want to run anymore.  It gave out on me and left me a bit crippled.  My much needed break was extended to a recovery.  I waited another week to give my knee a break, but with unfortunate results.  My knee is in worse shape.  Injuries are never fun and this one is keeping me from my goal of 185 pounds before Christmas.  It happens, and there’s nothing much you can do, but sit and wait and recover.  I can’t wait to get back out there and run again, but until then I’ll just enjoy the break.  Life is GOOD, run for your life!!!

I Did It!!!

7 A.M., Sunday morning.  I just arrive at the Pentagon in time to see what I enjoy before the Army Ten Miler every year: The Golden Knights.  It was a cool, crisp morning and I was hesistant to remove my jacket, but I took the chance.  It ended up being worth the risk after the sun came through the low clouds.  If that wasn’t enough to fuel my running fire, 18,000+ runners suddenly silent at the start of the “Star-Spangled Banner” did.

Crossing the start line had me a bit worried.  I already had to take a little detour into the bushes, which cut out 30 seconds of my first mile.  My goal of breaking my PR seemed to be as distant as the Capitol at the start of the Army Ten Miler.  I pushed on, trying to catch up to my desired pace.  Mile 1 threw me off a bit at a 9:00/mile pace, but I charged ahead.  When Mile 2 brought me on a 8:30/mile pace, my heart was in my throat and my stomach cramped, but I did not back down (“No, I won’t back down.  Won’t be turned around.  You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down”).  Next thing I knew, I was crossing the finish line after taking in the site of the city and I had a giant smile on my face.  I beat it . . . by two seconds.  8:40/mile.  My personal best in both a ten miler and in the Army Ten Miler.  This will be a race I’ll never forget, and a race I will always want to run.  Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

Pumped!

Last year at this time, I hardly ran 3 miles in the last 3-4 months.  I was completely out of shape, and there was no way in hell I was going to run the Army Ten Miler.  Or so I thought.  Arriving at the Expo brought back memories of races past, and I just couldn’t resist the temptation.  All the hype, excitement, and expo-ness got me in the mood to run a race.  I decided to run and finish the Army Ten Miler no matter what it took: run, walk, crawl . . . whatever it took.  To my surprise, I ended up running 6 miles without stopping to walk . . . don’t even ask me about the rest!

This year, I’m prepared to run.  I’ve worked and trained hard for this race.  I am definitely going to beat my time from last year, and would love to beat my personal best, 1:27:05.  The friend I mentioned last time, Julie, is running the race as well, and she told me she was “pumped” for the race.  She’s come a long way from the 6-month training I gave her.  She could run with me (she’s not since she thinks I’m a speed demon — which I’m not), but that’s OK.  These Expos, for whatever reason, always get me “pumped” for the race.  I can’t wait to get to the Expo tomorrow and watch the excitement/nervousness in everyone’s eyes, the vendors giving away free stuff, and the veteran runners taking their “pre-race jog” around the hotel (I’m NOT kidding).  I am “pumped” for the race.  And I will run for my life, because life is GOOD.

You and Whose Army?

Well, here I go again.  Another training has started.  This time, it’s the Army Ten Miler.  Considering Sunday I ran/walked about 8 miles, I’m in better shape than I thought I was.  But if you ask me how long it took, you might not think I’m in such great shape.  A good friend of mine . . . let’s call her Julie . . . and I are training for the race.  And if you recall from my last post, I have put together a close-to-6-month training (courtesy in part to Hal Higdon) for those who haven’t run one iota in their life or who need a little extra training before their race.  Julie is using that 6-month plan to train for the Army Ten Miler.  And I’m only get started.  I’m a procrastinator, yes I am.  But I tend to come in the clutch.  I love saving anything for the last minute, and training for a race is no exception.  Not only am I training for the Army Ten Miler, but I also decided that I need to do more pushups.  And I figured One Hundred Pushups is a good place to start.  I have been less than stellar lately in staying and getting in shape, but now I think I’ve finally gotten the push I need to get in shape.  What has pushed me?  Just about everything in my life . . . from my wife telling me to get off my lazy ass to Julie sending me a quote from one of my previous posts.  It will be tough, but I am tougher.  Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

It’s only half the year . . .

My wife has signed up for the Virginia Beach Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon this year. She hasn’t run since the Chicago Marathon in 2006, and she needed an easy way to get back into running. I’ve always used Hal Higdon, which is where I started in my running training. Based on his methods, a combination of both cross-training and training runs is key to being successful in any run. In addition he is a firm believer in that all training runs should be shorter than the run itself. For example, when training for a half marathon (13.1 miles) under his system, the longest training run in his regimen is 10 miles. I always use his training methods when training for any run, and I am pretty good at modifying any of his training schedules. For instance, take my wife’s training. Hal Higdon recommends no more than 12 weeks of novice training for a half marathon. However, my wife thinks that’s not enough time, especially since she hasn’t run in over a year and a half. Instead of a 12 week training, I’ve devised close to a 6-month training for her. That’s only half the year, right? Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

I’m A Loser, Bay-bee

Yep, I chickened out. I admit it. After shelling out $50-something, braving the horrendous parking fiasco at the Expo, and picking up my free T-Shirt, I did not run the Cherry Blossom 10-miler. Why do you ask? Because I’m a loser. That’s right. I woke up at 6 AM, saw the rain coming down, and went right back to bed. It was there! I was so close! I had the training. I had the know-how. I could’ve gotten a little wet to accomplish something great, but I didn’t. Now, I might have discouraged all 3 of you who read this, but don’t be. I can still run 10 miles. I have the satisfaction that I know I trained hard and well for this run. And I’ll just go on to the next race. Which, of course, I quickly signed up for because I know I have to redeem myself. And that would be the Army 10-Miler in October. Training doesn’t have to start until August, but that’s not going to happen. I will start training WELL BEFORE August. Running is my passion and I will not back down on my passion because Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

“Expo”sing Myself

It’s been a great 8 weeks of training, and now it comes down to the last 10 miles. This weekend, I will run the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Miler. I’m no stranger to the 10 mile run, but this will be only my 3rd Cherry Blossom run. This is where all the training pays off. Spending the last 8 Saturdays getting up early in the morning, dressing up in the warmest clothes I can find, and wondering what the heck I’m doing out in this cold weather anyway. It will all pay off when I line up at the back of the starting line, stretch my tight legs in the middle of a crowd (while trying not to touch the guy’s ass in front of me), and I tour the sites of D.C. with nothing but a pair of running shoes. But one of the best parts of the run (notice I always say run . . . and not race . . . this isn’t a competition people!!!), is the Expo. Even if you’re not running, the Expo is a valuable place to grab some freebies, buy some running equipment (even seen the watch that controls your iPod?), or get some great running advice. I can walk into the Expo and just feel the thrill of the run. It always gets me pumped up. Last year, I had signed up for the Army 10-Miler with every intention of running it. Unfortunately, lack of sleep got in the way, and I slacked in my training. But when I got to the Expo to pick up my packet (heck, I paid all this money — I need to at least get the race shirt), the adrenaline started to burn through my veins and I just couldn’t resist. With no more than 3 miles under my belt, I ran the Army 10-Miler — all because of the camaraderie of the Expo. If you’re thinking about running your first race, taking up running, or even a seasoned vet needing a little pick-me-up, go to one of these Expos. I guarantee it will get you in the mood to get out and run because Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

Does This Marathon Make Me Look Fat?

OK, OK, OK. This is a complete female comment. No guy in their right mind ever asks such a question — I never do. But this blog is all about the runner and running. Running, the healthy sport. Running, the best excuse to buy a new pair of really cool sneakers. Running, the make you feel good all over after you’ve run double digit miles for the first time in your life. Running, the sport that makes you gain weight??? How is this possible?

The other night (OK, I’ll admit it . . . it was the middle of the afternoon because I have a daughter who needs to go to sleep quite early in the evening), one of my fellow marathoners made a great point: There is no such thing as losing weight when training for a marathon. I’ll have to admit, it’s quite true. I never thought about it before, but I can see why someone can gain weight when training for a marathon (or insert favorite type of race here).

It’s 7 AM on Saturday and you’re not hung over. You went to bed at 9 PM last night. You want to get that long run overwith. You want to be done in order to enjoy the rest of the weekend. After 2-3 hours running 15 miles (or insert your time and longest mileage here) and feeling good about yourself, you get home with just enough energy to shower and right on time for breakfast. But, this is no ordinary breakfast. You just ran 15 miles!!! You deserve something tasty and rewarding. How about some French toast . . . with a side of bacon . . . with a bowl of fresh pineapple . . . with two eggs over easy . . . with a cup of caramel macchiato . . . with a glass of grape juice . . . and a bowl of cereal . . . and on . . . and on . . . and on. Yes, it happens. And since you did run 15 miles today, lunch consists of a foot-long sub from the local sandwich shop, an entire bag of chips, a ice-cold Coke, and a brownie for dessert. And since you did run 15 miles today (yes, you can keep repeating it, because hey . . . it’s 15 miles!!!!!!), dinner will take you to your favorite restaurant in which your allowed to order ANYTHING YOU WANT on the menu and drink ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE that you desire. Now, rinse and repeat throughout the entire week . . . because did I mention you RAN 15 MILES????

It’s no secret that after all that consumption of mass quantities (you know you like the Coneheads reference) at some point you will gain weight or not lose any weight at all. It’s the “I deserve it” mentality. You run all these miles and burn all these calories and you think you deserve all this calorie-laden food. I do it all the time. At some point you realize that if you want to lose weight, you have to lose that mentality. It’s a tough one, I know. But you CAN treat yourself — just don’t over-treat yourself. For example, instead of a gigantic breakfast, lunch, and dinner choose one of them. Have a large breakfast and then eat sensibly for lunch and dinner. Or eat healthy all day and have a sweet, fulfilling dessert waiting for you at the end. There has to be at least some reward for running 15 miles (after all, you did run 15 miles . . . can I say it enough? You just ran 15 miles!!!). Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL(s)!!!!!!!!!

Maybe it happens like this . . . Bzzzzzz!!!!! Bzzzzzz!!!! Bzzzzzz!!!! Bzzzzz!!!! or “The time is now 5 AM. This is NPR.” You groggily switch off the alarm (or hit the Snooze button), and slide ever so grudgingly out of bed. Finding your running outfit in the New Time Darkness (aka Daylight Savings Time) is a challenge in itself. Trying not to wake your wife and daughter on the LOUD CREAKY hardwood floor does not work, but you walk downstairs anyway in your lime green long sleeve shirt and bright red running pants. Is it Christmas? No . . . you’re just trying to be safe and wear lots of bright clothes and reflective gear. After almost pulling a hamstring attempting to stretch your legs into positions unimaginable, you head out the door into the cold weather for a nice leisurely jog (aka 6 miles uphill against the wind there and back). The iPod blaring in your ears doesn’t help. The sights you’ve seen a million times before don’t help. What do you do to alleviate your boredom? Set goals!!!!

Now, I don’t mean “I’m gonna make $1 Million by the time I’m 30!!!!”. I’m WAY behind on that goal. What I mean is for you to set goals during your run. For example, let’s say I have to run 6 miles — which, by coincidence is what I ran today. When you start to feel like you need to walk, you’re dying of boredom, or you just feel like you can’t run anymore, set a goal to hit before you decide to stop. On my run today, right around the halfway point I set a goal to stop running until the song playing ended (it happened to be “8:02 PM” by For Squirrels). By the time the song finished, I forgot all about my short-lived goal. When I started to get tired again, I aimed to stop by the time I got to a certain intersection. When it happened again, I talked myself into running twice around the nearby park. By the time I set that final goal, my run was over. I had forgotten all about the fatigue, the soreness, and the cold weather. Try it out. I guarantee it works. Get out and run, and if you feel like you want to stop, set some goals for your run. Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!

Did you forget about me?

It always starts out the same way, and it never gets easy every time you hear it . . .

Dear Cherry Blossom Runner in Training,

I was waiting for you this weekend, but you never showed up.  I waited right outside your doorstep just like I always do, but I never saw you come out.  Was it something I said?  Was it something I did?  I know it was raining all day Saturday, and you already had plans with your good friends K and D.  That’s completely understandable, and I didn’t think I would see you on Saturday.  But I really thought that we had plans on Sunday.  Did you forget about me?  It was a little cold out and the wind was blowing something fierce, but the sun was shining and I know the cold doesn’t bother you.  I think I actually saw you on Sunday, walking around with your wife and kid!!!!  I can’t believe you!  You have the gall to walk outside, but not even the courtesy to give me a second look.  Well, it’s your life.  You do what you want to do, don’t you?  I’m not going to stand in your way.  I hope that one day you will see what you’re missing and come running back to me.  Until then, I’ll be right here.  Waiting on your doorstep.

Sincerely,

Your 6-mile run

It hits me every time . . . the guilt.  I could’ve run in the morning.  I could’ve run in the afternoon.  I could’ve set my alarm and gotten up a bit earlier in the morning.  I could’ve, I could’ve, I could’ve . . . . if I could’ve, then I probably should’ve.  It’s always tough to get out and run 6 miles (that’s at least an hour out of your already busy day), but it can be done.  Wake up earlier.  Motivate yourself to get out of the house (listen to music, put on your running outfit, trick yourself into thinking you’re going out to get a coffee) and go run!  No excuses!  You made a commitment to run a race . . . make the commitment to train for that race!  It’s easy to do.  And if you can’t run that 6 miles (or insert your long run here) over the weekend, run it on Monday.  It’s OK to miss your weekend run as long as you can make it up during the week — the sooner the better.  There are going to be weekend where you just can’t make your long run.  It happens to me all the time.  Don’t get discouraged, get out and run!  Because . . . Life is GOOD . . . so run for your life!!!