Saturday, January 02, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Hola, gente!
Poor blog...so long neglected...just like my running. My posting for 2009 for this blog=oh, nothing! To recap my year: I did the El Paso marathon, which I loved. I would whole-heartedly recommend the half or full to anyone. There was lots of food, beer, and screaming volunteers at each stop. Running (or jogging...or hobbling) a marathon is not that bad. Only a few hours of pain, and totally worth it for the bigger medal and more annoying bragging rights (you know, the "oh, my leg hurts because i did a marthon this weekend" kind of crap. believe me, i milked it dry).
The training is what sucks. If you don't mind spending the majority of your weekend running and then recovering, go for it! I will definitely do that race again when the planets align and my body's at a place where I can train.
In April, I completed the Unser 21k. Nothing spectacular about that race except that I was tired. It was only a few weeks after the marathon, and I had to walk the final three miles.
This year, I have the El Paso half on the schedule and nothing else definite. Plenty of maybes, though. Marathon to Marathon? Stay tuned. Happy new year!
The training is what sucks. If you don't mind spending the majority of your weekend running and then recovering, go for it! I will definitely do that race again when the planets align and my body's at a place where I can train.
In April, I completed the Unser 21k. Nothing spectacular about that race except that I was tired. It was only a few weeks after the marathon, and I had to walk the final three miles.
This year, I have the El Paso half on the schedule and nothing else definite. Plenty of maybes, though. Marathon to Marathon? Stay tuned. Happy new year!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The other night I had a dream that some of my classmates from high school and I traveled to San Francisco for a marathon. As the dream progressed, it turned into a nightmare. I had forgotten my gels for the race, we ate frozen pizzas for carb-loading, and as we were driving down the interstate doing some sight-seeing (?), I suddenly remembered the marathon was in LA. Needless to say, I didn't run, and my traveling companions weren't too happy. I felt relieved, though.
The ambivalence about running a marathon is seeping through in other ways. I still haven't registered although I'm training. After the long runs the past two weeks, I've been able to function thanks to my special little concoction: ibuprofen, cytomax and caffeine, but I wonder how I'll be able to manage an additional 10 miles.
I'm entering new territory. My body is being pushed to new limits for an event that requires serious commitment. I'm scared that one day it's going to tell me "enough." Nothing has indicated that it'll happen, it's just a nagging worry in my mind. More than anything else, my mind can't get around the distances I have to cover each weekend. On foot. By my own energy and motion.
I've been training for almost six months to reach this point, and although I sometimes think of running long with trepidation, I won't let myself quit. With the wind in my face and blisters on my feet, I'll get there.
The ambivalence about running a marathon is seeping through in other ways. I still haven't registered although I'm training. After the long runs the past two weeks, I've been able to function thanks to my special little concoction: ibuprofen, cytomax and caffeine, but I wonder how I'll be able to manage an additional 10 miles.
I'm entering new territory. My body is being pushed to new limits for an event that requires serious commitment. I'm scared that one day it's going to tell me "enough." Nothing has indicated that it'll happen, it's just a nagging worry in my mind. More than anything else, my mind can't get around the distances I have to cover each weekend. On foot. By my own energy and motion.
I've been training for almost six months to reach this point, and although I sometimes think of running long with trepidation, I won't let myself quit. With the wind in my face and blisters on my feet, I'll get there.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Ambivalence
I'll admit it: I've put off registering for the Austin Marathon because I'm afraid I won't be able to do it. The hill training has begun in earnest, and the long runs are happening, but I just don't know if I'll have the strength to do it. Like today, I ran 12 miles, but by the time I was done, my legs felt swollen and sore. Not the kind of sore that you get from use; the kind that you get when you sit on a plane for many hours and you get up just before thrombosis sets in.
12 miles is no new challenge for me. I've done it many times. Maybe the mind knows that it's just the starting point for many longer runs. Maybe it's because the last long run was only 5 days ago, with a 5k race in the middle of all that. Whatever it is, I felt tired. I wanted to stop.
When I think about it, though, there probably is no ideal time to train for a marathon. There'll always be some excuse to keep me from doing it. And then I ask myself why do I need to do it? I'm not a runner, and there are probably many more important, less self-absorbed things I could be doing. I might not be healthy enough to do it.
Yes, but...I always manage to come up with a rebuttal. I want the satisfaction of completing something that physically demanding. I like how strong my legs feel. I like knowing that no matter how hard my week has been, I have time carved out at the end of the week to move and think, or not think, depending.
I know what I want to do; it's just a matter of not paying attention to my doubts. I need to find this out for myself. The only way to do it is try.
12 miles is no new challenge for me. I've done it many times. Maybe the mind knows that it's just the starting point for many longer runs. Maybe it's because the last long run was only 5 days ago, with a 5k race in the middle of all that. Whatever it is, I felt tired. I wanted to stop.
When I think about it, though, there probably is no ideal time to train for a marathon. There'll always be some excuse to keep me from doing it. And then I ask myself why do I need to do it? I'm not a runner, and there are probably many more important, less self-absorbed things I could be doing. I might not be healthy enough to do it.
Yes, but...I always manage to come up with a rebuttal. I want the satisfaction of completing something that physically demanding. I like how strong my legs feel. I like knowing that no matter how hard my week has been, I have time carved out at the end of the week to move and think, or not think, depending.
I know what I want to do; it's just a matter of not paying attention to my doubts. I need to find this out for myself. The only way to do it is try.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
It's official
I added about an hour to my time from my last race, but it was for a good cause. My mom completed her first half marathon today!
The race was crowded, the lines were long, but it was fun.
The best part is that I'm done.
Now I can rest.
The race was crowded, the lines were long, but it was fun.
The best part is that I'm done.
Now I can rest.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Ah, running...
So, since the Duke City half, I have been slacking on my running. Well, I was really doing another marathon of sorts: life. I went canvassing on the weekends leading up to elections, had training (both as a facilitator and participant), and got sick again. My fever finally broke, and I'm ready to hit the trails again.
I found a new pair of shoes that felt divine on my feet, the updated model of the shoes I love. I had to special order them, so they probably won't arrive for the San Antonio Rock-N-Roll half next weekend. It's not such a big deal, though, because I'll likely walk most of it. This race is really about the medal.
I am training for a marathon for February. Austin. Someone asked me, "Have you checked out the profile for the race?" Me: "Yeah, kind of." (I sometimes don't know why things come out of my mouth. I guess it was true; I had checked it out but couldn't remember the specifics.) The other person, "Well, it's pretty hilly." Oh, joy. I didn't want to tell him it that what attracted me to the race was the 7 hour cut-off, not the hills. So I said, "Well, I did San Francisco this summer." Like it was a big accomplishment. Or something.
I guess I'll need a healthy dose of denial as I head into training for the race. I just have to remember that this is about finishing, not about all the other little things I struggle with in life. And it's about having fun.
I found a new pair of shoes that felt divine on my feet, the updated model of the shoes I love. I had to special order them, so they probably won't arrive for the San Antonio Rock-N-Roll half next weekend. It's not such a big deal, though, because I'll likely walk most of it. This race is really about the medal.
I am training for a marathon for February. Austin. Someone asked me, "Have you checked out the profile for the race?" Me: "Yeah, kind of." (I sometimes don't know why things come out of my mouth. I guess it was true; I had checked it out but couldn't remember the specifics.) The other person, "Well, it's pretty hilly." Oh, joy. I didn't want to tell him it that what attracted me to the race was the 7 hour cut-off, not the hills. So I said, "Well, I did San Francisco this summer." Like it was a big accomplishment. Or something.
I guess I'll need a healthy dose of denial as I head into training for the race. I just have to remember that this is about finishing, not about all the other little things I struggle with in life. And it's about having fun.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Today's equation
Feeling refreshed when waking up after 8 hours of sleep
+
Dealing with any nutritional/digestive issues
+
Remembering the small things (like putting on Bodyglide and taking Advil)
+
Having gone the distance in training
+
Running a flat course you've covered many times
+
A cool new toy your sister gave you
+
A beautiful fall day
+
A body that wanted to run
=
A really fun race
AND
Your new PR (by more than 5 minutes!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
