This Umstead Run Was a Gift

I had a great run today in Umstead State Park.  Fog shrouded this solo run, and the temperature was an unseasonably warm and welcome 50 degrees.  As my legs powered me through the hilly park, this run was like a gift to affirm  my joy of running after a week that did not start well.

On Monday I fell in the darkness, skinned my knees, and tore a small hole in my favorite running pants.  I thought I had cleared a pile of yard waste curbside, but a stray, long branch tripped me.  I was stunned.  The fall felt like I was in slow motion.  When I went down with about a mile and a half to go, I wanted to stop, but I trudged on, slowly.  I can't remember the last time I skinned my knees.  I found renewed compassion for small children who fall and skin their knees.  We adults hug them and tell them they are fine, but they must be shocked, and darn, it hurts!

The Tuesday run did not go smoothly either.  During my track workout, I had technical difficulties with my watch and my Garmin.  It's challenging for me to use those in the dark when I am pressed for time.  I hit my paces even though I don't have a good number of laps recorded.  I was able to settle down and remind myself to quit taking myself so seriously.  Really, again, what did it matter?

On today's run wearing shorts and a t-shirt, I enjoyed the feel of the moist air on my skin with water droplets collecting in my hair making it a fuzzy mess at the end of my braid.  The fog softened the contours of the hilly course and enveloped me with a sense of having the park all to myself except for the moments when oncoming runners appeared briefly through the fog and quickly receded back into it.    
This was running at its best.

Training this past week:

Monday: 6 miles; 9:38 pace
Tuesday: 7.5 miles; 4 miles alternating between 8:20 and 7:40 pace
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 7 miles; 8:47 pace
Friday: cycling class + yoga
Saturday: 16 hilly miles: 9:28 pace
Sunday: Rest

New Perspective on Marathons in the New Year

Once in a while, I look at what has accumulated in my nightstand, specifically selected to hold reading material.   On New Year's Day, I counted 11 unread books and didn't bother to count the magazines (many of which, except for Runner's World, I tossed).  My unread Runner's World collection dates to 2011.  I flip through the pages and read each for a few minutes the day it arrives in the mail and plan to read the rest at another time. I stopped then and read the January copy with its Special Report "After the Storm: What the NYC Marathon Mess Means For Races -- and Runners."

Each month Runner's World is inspiring and informative and contains an article or two about serious topics such as dog attacks, doping, abuse of athletes in their youth, etc.  Two articles stood out for me in this issue: "Are We Running in a Bubble?'' and "Does Running Have a Blue-Collar Problem?" The first article suggests that we marathon runners live in a type of bubble world. We converge in cities en masse, take up space in local restaurants, and create havoc for locals while 26.2 miles of road are disrupted for our race.  While in the host cities, we celebrate ourselves and expect others to do the same.   The writer suggests that there is and has been an underlying disdain for marathon runners, and Hurricane Sandy merely allowed this to come to light.  The Blue Collar article relays that not only do we disrupt the locals' lives, but also remind some that they have less discretionary income than we do. We have the means and are willing to pay $100, $200, or more to run 26.2 miles, not to mention the credit cards we use in the restaurants and hotels.

While not uplifting articles, it is good to have this perspective.  I had never thought of marathon runners (myself included) in this way, but apparently others do.  I was talking with a friend and former Bostonian recently, and her comments about the Boston Marathon were that she didn't have fond memories of it because her commute to work on that day was indeed disrupted.  I must admit that this look in the mirror makes me a little uncomfortable, but being able to understand, relate and adapt in some way because of others' views and criticism is essential.

This has me thinking that many groups beyond marathon runners could benefit from a look at how others view them.  I can think of numerous examples -- especially revolving around politics and religion.  How many of us live in our own bubble worlds in those realms?  How could we and others benefit if in the leading publications in these areas of our lives, the editors have the courage to hold up a mirror and point out how others perceive us?  How might we change and create more good for all?

Training this past week:

Mon.: 5 miles; 9:31 pace
Tues.:  Happy New Year!  Day off
Wed.: 7 hilly miles; 9:27 pace
Thurs.: 4 miles; 9:23 pace plus 6 X100m strides (not done because of poor time management)
Fri.: stationary bike 40 minutes + yoga class
Sat.: 12 miles; 9:05 pace
Sun.: rest

Settling into Winter Training in Georgia

Corner Store

On Saturday I ran four loops totaling 15 miles in the rural Georgia town of Cassville while visiting with my in-laws.  On the run I realized that I will be out in the cold, wind and rain a lot in the coming months, and I'm adapting. The 10% chance of rain materialized while the temperature was 40 degrees, and it rained lightly at some times.

Enjoyed passing the sheep until their herding dog expressed his dislike of me.

I enjoyed the new scenery along the two-lane curving roads.  This area has leash laws, so I felt safe from dogs.  Only on my third loop did a dog have a chance to charge at me.  A herding dog ran out of the open gate on its property and came close to me.  I slowed and did not look at it, hoping that the dog was protecting the sheep on the property and not wanting to engage me any more than I wanted to engage with it.  I was fine, but rerouted the end of the run.

The local cemetery is the final resting place for numerous Confederate soldiers killed in battle or as a result of their wounds.

Monday: 7 miles; 9:21 pace + 6 x 100 strides
Tuesday: Day off for Christmas
Wednesday: 8 hilly miles; 8:58 pace
Thursday: 6 miles; 9:25 pace
Friday: Cycling and Yoga; not done (traveling)
Saturday: 15 miles on Roads: 9:19 pace
Sunday: Day Off

Washing my Yoga Pants on a Run

On Wednesday I ran eight hilly miles with a friend at 6AM in the cold rain.  It was raining, dark and 40 degrees when we started.   When I first saw her, I laughed and wondered what we were doing out when most were resting from the previous day's Christmas festivities.  The first half of the run was better than expected, except when the road curved, and the wind hit us with a surprisingly cold gust.

My friend and I parted ways at around four miles when she ventured farther to make hers a 10 miler.  It was then that the light ran turned into a downpour.  I wondered how she could keep running in the other direction and away from the warmth of our homes.  The first half of our course has more uphills, so making the way home, downhill, is more pleasant  -- except for on this morning.

I've been running for just over six years, and I don't think I've experienced such miserable running conditions.  I have run in the rain.  I don't balk at that, but this was cold, cold rain.  A drenching rain.  My pants stuck to my legs, and I felt like I was carrying extra pounds of water.  I had worn my running jacket designed for temperatures under 40 degrees; it is water resistant, but not waterproof.  I don't run in these types of conditions enough to justify purchasing waterproof outerwear.

On my return trip home, I thought that this is a treadmill type of morning.  If I had to, I would run eight miles on a treadmill.  I do not own a treadmill.  I don't think I would want to unless I lived in a colder climate.  My house doesn't have room for such a large piece of equipment, and I have a Y membership.  I can run on a treadmill at the Y, but it was closed for the Christmas Holiday.

Distracted by my Garmin and still running in the dark (and alone at this point), I made a wrong turn and ran about 200 meters in the wrong direction. I was soaked, cold and lost.   I stood disoriented wondering what to do and hoped I could retrace my steps and and get back on track.  This was at 5.5 miles.  My momentum was gone.  I wanted to stop and be home. I tried to find humor in it all.

Early morning runs during the Christmas Season have bright points.  I caught Santa at this house.

I was short on mileage at the end, so I ran back out and found myself running toward my training partner.  We couldn't believe the turn the weather had taken.  She said that all she could do was laugh about such a miserable run.  I felt the same way.  As we parted, she pointed out that I had soap bubbles on my pants.  Yes, soap bubbles.  My knees were foaming as if I were in a washing machine.  She laughed and laughed.  And, I did, too.  This was a first.  We laughed some more as we stopped to take a picture of my pants.  I was foaming in other areas that were touching my skin.  Bizarre.  When I made it home I realized that I had mistaken my yoga pants for my running pants. That's a first, too.  And, I hope it's my last run for a while in the cold rain.

It's hard not to find humor all along this run.

Boston Training: Week Three

This week Winter weather set in during training.  On Tuesday I ran at 6AM in shorts; on Saturday I ran at 9AM bundled in layers and gloves.  The wind was fierce during the Saturday long run, but my area was spared from the Blizzard that affected some parts of the country.

I was grateful for company on some runs this week.  When I ran alone, I couldn't help reflecting on the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.  I have felt sorrow and anger.  In Yoga, I wasn't able to stay in the moment when focusing on my breath and lungs expanding because in crept intrusive thoughts of small children's lives ending, their lungs, hearts and other vital organs being injured to the point of death.  I imagined their final moments while I moved through poses on cue using my body and lungs.

This week I have loved my children more fiercely than ever.  My youngest is six-years-old, the age of many of the victims.  I was in her first-grade classroom twice this week, once volunteering for centers and once for her year-end cultural celebration.  Each one of her classmates is even more precious to me.  And, my fifth grader is now aware that we live in an unpredictable and cruel world.

We are beginning a time of family togetherness this Christmas week.  I will enjoy spending time with my family and will travel to visit extended family.  My training plan will be somewhat disrupted, but I am thankful that I have these wonderful people with which to share my life.  I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

This past week of training:
Monday:  5 miles rolling hills at 9:34 pace
Tuesday:  Track Tempo Run; 2 miles warm up, 4 miles at 7:57 pace, one mile cool down
Wednesday:  Day off
Thursday:  7 miles general aerobic run on rolling hills at 9:13 pace
Friday:  Cycling + Yoga
Saturday: 13 miles of rolling hills at 9:32 pace
Sunday:  Rest

Where Did She Go?

This week I had tea with a friend who is training to run the Boston Marathon.  She reminded me that a year-and-a-half ago, I sat relaxed in a comfortable chair in a friend's living room and stated that if I made it to Boston, I was going to enjoy the run and take in the scenery.

Where did that woman go? She sounds like someone with whom I'd like to spend time and share runs. She was calm and confident and simply seeking a wonderful new experience.  I would be drawn to such a person and think that I'd like to qualify so that I could enjoy the sights and sounds along the famous course.

That woman has been replaced by a strange, competitive runner who has no one to compete against except herself.  She reads books, articles and blog posts about the Boston Marathon and adheres closely to a training schedule designed for speed from Hopkinton to the finish line.

Training last week:
Monday:  6 miles; 9:21 average pace on rolling course
Tuesday: weights
Wednesday: Steady negative run; 7 rolling miles; 8:49 average pace
Thursday:  5 miles;  9:15 pace, (forgot to do 8 strides) plus weights
Friday:  cycling/yoga (had conflict in schedule, so not completed)
Saturday:  12 miles; 9:23 average pace on rolling course

First Week of Boston Training

This has been an eventful first week of training, and I have three areas on which to report:  coaching, training, and attending a workshop.

First, my coach is no longer coaching as she used to, but she will assist me with my training.  No more second guessing.  I will follow her training plan for me to the best of my ability and have confidence that I prepared in the best way possible when I go into the race.

Training this past week:
Monday:  4 miles, easy
Tuesday:  2 mile warm up + 5 miles of alternating 3 minutes up tempo and 2 minute jogs
Wednesday:  rest (I had scheduled weight training.  Which excuse would you like?)
Thursday:  5 miles, easy
Friday:  cycling class + yoga class
Saturday:  11 miles at 9:15 to 9:45 pace
Sunday:  workshop

Today I attended a Good Running Form Workshop presented by New Balance at Fleet Feet in Raleigh.  As a result, I am humbled.  Seven other women and I were video taped using an exclusive running application on an iPad, and we learned our number of foot strikes per minute.  To run fast, easy and injury free, runners should aim for a cadence of 180 foot strikes per minute.  We were all around 150, which we were told is where most runners are. The humbling part for me is that I worked on this briefly in the Spring.  I thought I would be closer to 180.  So, now I have even more work to do during training, and I will have many miles during which to practice.