Austin's Free Day of Yoga in Review

While many of my Austin fellows were evacuating their homes and escaping from the Texas wildfires, I was planning out my Free Day of Yoga on Labor Day. Yes, selfish, unmarried, and out of harm's way. Could my life be any more capacious? Don't envy me though. This was the only thing I could think to do to occupy my time and I ended up taking three very different classes with varying results. The end result being that I am still incredibly sore from taking all these advantages.

Blurg...

Kundalini (w/aroma therapy) - Well, here's alternative medicine for ya. If there was ever a class where a society of religious individuals (who were not Hindu mind you) that thought Yoga to be the devil's handy work, this class would be about as close to that as you could imagine. I will say though, for as devout a Christian as I am, I did not feel like the devil had scooped me up, rather, I just felt... happy. I walked out of the class with a smile on my face!

Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a little out there. We used essential oils to unleash our tensions, harness our inner being stuff, and relax our minds. Then, at the end, while everyone was in there final vinyasa, the yogi instructor sang to us whilst playing his accordion. This, more than anything else that occurred, made me smile. I wasn't laughing at him; I just thought it was sweet. What I found funny was during our 'Ohm' chants (yes, there was that), there was a random older gentlemen in the back that could not for them life of him harmonize with the rest of us. It was like a tuba being played with a string quartet.

Downward Facing Dog anyone?

Yoga for Athletes - Finally, a yoga for the stiff-bodied souls. Now I could stand to do this class about three times a week. We focused primarily on the hamstrings and IT Bands; the most painful stretching I can do, but the most helpful. I learned some new stretches for my IT Band that I can't do with my foam roller. I would recommend this class to anyone who runs or bikes. There were a lot of warrior poses, vinyasas, and other leg-centric stretching. The good news is that I found out this class is offered as a donation only class. The bad news is that it's only once a week.


Restorative Yoga - This class was actually my wildcard. I had conducted research on the other two beforehand, but for restorative, or deep relaxation yoga, I had decided on a whim to do it because I wanted to relax. Its primary focus is to get you relaxed (mind, body, soul, all that) and ready for sleep. Apparently it was developed as recently as the 1970s and Austin seems to have quite a variety of these classes at the various studios.

Literally what I looked like in Restorative Yoga

... It was relaxing enough in that I was bored out of my mind. I believe we were in there an hour and a half and only did about five positions; each one to be held for extended periods of time. I do like the theory behind it though, and my boredom may be a sign of the times. We... rush and rush until life's no fun... I'm in a hurry and don't know why. Rest and sleep is not something that's usually high on the priority list. Even now, I'm staying up late to make this blog entry.



My end result??? I did have a strange overabundance of energy that evening, but in all likelihood, that was partly caused by all this dark chocolate I ate. And like I mentioned earlier, my arms, legs, and rib meat still ache, but I'm still glad I did it. These were classes I would not have taken had I been required to pay for them, but they were all fun in their own way. I am seriously considering the Yoga for Athletes class as an ongoing thing. The aroma therapy class may just end up being my own private aroma therapy with scented candles in my apartment.

Hiking Instead of Running?

I wonder how you can keep a 'runner's blog' going when you've decided to forfeit your goal of running a marathon, and then a brutal Texas summer zaps any remaining energy you have to run leisurely? I wonder...

Running is on the back burner for me these days. Maybe it will pick up in the fall, but maybe I'll find a different exercise-infused hobby to focus on. Strenuous or not, I have chosen other temporary solutions to getting exercise. Take this little thing I did recently that allowed me to scratch an item off of my bucket list.

Picture it: 
It was cool and crisp Colorado summer morning. The dew was fresh and fattened by yesterday's rain. The clouds were sparse, which was a good sign. With no rain clouds in the near future, I began my trek up Pike's Peak in Manitu Springs.

I chose the Barr Trail, which is 12.6 miles of well-beaten switchbacks and inclines, the likes of which I had never seen. In Austin, a mile of this type of inclined trail was about all I would handle, but there, you're dealing with the Texas sun, not to be confused with the Colorado sun; a wimpy, dim, bulb of a thing that gives off virtually no heat.

My destination? The top of the peak, but more importantly, the little restaurant at the top where they serve greasy donuts and coffee; something I just knew I deserved to eat with no guilt!

The first six miles went by in about three and a half hours. I was in the forest with plenty of shade and pleasant nature sounds that kept my spirits high. I reached the Barr Trail Camp and sat a spell to eat and rest my aching hips (IT Band, anyone?). Chipmunks combed the area looking for nuts. A friendly couple live at the campsite there full time, where they visit with travelers and cook up meals to share. They were impressed that I had made it that far so quickly and that I was alone. Not everyone I knew was happy I was alone, but given that the trail is so popular, I knew I would make friends.

And I did, not too long after I left the camp. One of their members had a hurt leg that was being nursed, and I bonded with them over trail mix and light chatter about Stubb's BBQ. It seemed they had enough connections with Austin to keep the topics going for a while.

Eventually though, at mile 10, things changed drastically. The trees were disappearing, the air was getting thinner, and my new friends appeared to be walking faster... or should I say, I was walking slower. They would wait for me here and there until I finally said, "Go. Go on ahead. I'm moving in slow motion from here on out."

And so it was. I conquered the three remaining miles in three measly hours. It was the worst. Ever tried to breath in a bag or through a straw? Well, that's about how much oxygen I was getting in my lungs at the time. I was breathing like I had just run a 10k, so I stopped a lot. A lone traveler and his boxer remained close by during my last mile up. My competitive side took over and I decided that I needed to at least beat him to the top. Why? I don't know. I can't always reason with that side of my brain. The boxer, Gloria as he called her, was sweet and appeared unaware of the thin air. That bitch (female dog, people...female dog).

The views were nice, but I was done. I took pictures along the way because I knew I would appreciate what I was looking at more, once it all was over. But, even as I got to the top, another drama unfolded. Altitude sickness took over and I was soon either curled over a toilet or curled up in a booth. Too sick to make sense, and too sick to even think about juicy, golden donuts.

I had conquered roughly 8,000 feet of incline and had reached the top of a 14,110 ft mountain by foot, but all I could think about was riding back down on the train. My parents met me at the top via train and we rode back down together in a triumphant blaze of glory. Their parental skills kicked into high gear, and I become their young child once more. Who better than my parents to 'take it from there?' They nursed me back to stable condition, just in time to hop on a plane back to Austin the next day.

Surprisingly, I wasn't that sore. The altitude sickness put a damper on things in the end, but my IT Band pain had waned.

Could have been worse.

But I have no regrets. It was something I knew I needed to do, and through this small triumph, I'm ready for more.... of something new!

Muster Up the Courage

It has been a while since I've blogged, but then, it's been a while since I've ran. I've talked myself out of seeking additional professional help regarding the IT Band many times, so I'm intent on healing the hard way...it looks like. My regimen? Not consistent, buuuut it consists of yoga, occasional weight lifting, walking, and little snippits of light jogging. Yoga has been the most beneficial in relieving stress, strengthening my back, and burning calories. Plus, the hot yoga room I've become accustomed to has a detoxifying effect on my body. It's a good hobby, healthy, but I occasionally get bored to the point where I've dropped down to one class a week. I'm no Yogi. I don't have the hamstrings for it. I fold like a wilting flower with any hamstring stretch. I blame running for that, and not at all on my lack of stretching...Nameste.

I say occasional weight lifting because I'm not good about remembering that I need to do that. I'd say it's just as important as running. Plus, I've read that if you're working to lose weight, lifting the right weights help your body target where the weight should be lost. For instance, muscle mass can be lost just as easy as fat (if not easier) and lifting keeps those muscle active and intact. Plus, it helps tone. I would NOT say that I'm tone, but I've felt a little (itty bitty) benefit from lifting...aaaaaand that was awesome.

Walking is great. Give me an IPod full of music and good shoes, and there I go. The understanding I have, however, is that if you want to get some of the same benefits with walking as you do with running, you have to go twice as far! Who has time for that? Speed walking is fun, too. I've been dabbling in that, but I got a little over zealous the other day and my hip started to hurt. Sorry hip.

My first light jog since the TIR was at my favorite jogging trail in Austin, which helped, but it proved to be a test of my leg's patience. Five minutes in, the ache began. From there it was mostly walking, with the occasional quick foot.

I know what the right thing to do is, and per usual, it is not so easy. Time devoted to the healing process is time well spent, even if it takes a while; even if it hurts.
This is a tough hobby.

Ups and Downs

An IT Band injury is not like having a sore muscle where, if left with minor involvement, your body will typically repair the damage. An IT Band injury is like wounded pride. There's no ignoring no matter how busy you get. You must "baby" it and tend to its every need to make it "release" and unwind. Ask your leg for forgiveness every day! Stroke its ego if you have to....or in other words, massage the muscle daily and combine that with any outside therapy that money can provide. 

Yes, according to a couple of IT Band-related articles I've read, it can take anywhere from three to six weeks to heal, work on it properly, and not make it worse. One crazy website (written by a running enthusiast) was trying to suggest running schedules to stick to while the muscle heals. Forget that! I'm lucky if I can make it up and down the three flights of stairs to my apartment without a twinge of pain. 

In preparation for a vacation I just got back from, I worked that muscle and was dedicated to it to the point of madness and it paid off. In between continuous stretches, I had an enjoyable vacation. There was minimal walking compared to my usual gallivanting around on weekends, but I nary had even an ache. I received a Sports Massage during my time off and that really set the recovery wheels in motion (for a little while, anyway). The therapist remarked that my bones tended to pop a lot and while I agreed with her, in that I have been able to easily pop my joints since childhood, I had been noticing that my right hip (with the injury) pops a bit more than the other. Is this a sign of things to come?

Unfortunately, from the time I came home until now (about five days), I've almost gotten back to square one, simply because I stopped working the muscle daily. And why is that? I got lazy, or distracted. One of the two. As soon as the weekend came, I started to feel that all-too-familiar twinge in my hip. My knee seemed to be fine, which is where most people describe the IT Band pain. I'm not sure if mine is severe enough to have reached the knee, so the pain sits gingerly around my right hip. The one professional therapist I had inspect my injury said that it wasn't too bad because the entire IT Band was not damaged. Only the part around the gluteus was constricted and knotted. 

Now, as of today, I'm clawing my way back onto the recovery wagon and using the foam roller again with daily stretches. I've learned the hard way of what happens when you stop the regiment..you start feeling like your hip is going to dislocate.

Recovery Reeks

It's a week into my recovery from the TIR and things are...progressing. By Tuesday of this past week, my quad and arm soreness was almost gone. I owe that to the Epson salt baths, light stretching and walking, oh, and Yoga (for the quick recovery part). That's something I haven't really boasted about. There are a few things I did differently for this year's TIR that I didn't do last year. I worked on my running posture.  I working on my breathing (uh, while running, apparently you gotta do it a certain way). I did Yoga. I've been practicing Yoga off and on since college but got into "hot yoga" about three years back. I needed a distraction in my life during that time and it certainly was. Since then, as I can budget it, I've been taking classes here and there. Some days I don't want to go. Some days, it's the only thing I look forward to. And, I always feel better after each class. So for the muscles I stretched regularly in yoga, I think I gave them the upper hand for the race. As for my Iliotibial (IT) Band, I wasn't participating in the kind of yoga that stretches that muscle area too much, and given that I didn't really stretch it before and after my runs, it was about time something broke.

So, I'm kinda sad now...

No one is this happy when using the roller, come on!

Recovery time for the IT Band means pain and discomfort. The muscle parts that have tensed up or have knots that need to be worked out...by hand. Or, by the foam roller, which has been my newest purchase. I literally broke out into a sweat when I used it earlier today. Combined with stress of an upcoming vacation to prepare for and the fact that my hip start experiencing the sharp pains it had during the TIR, I'm feeling a sense of urgency to get back to normal. I have decided, though, if I'm still in pain after my vacation, I will seek a therapist's help...to...have someone professionally knead the knots out of my leg. Now THAT is something to look forward to!

On a lighter note...
I have seen some of the professional pics taken of my TIR team. For some reason, in ALL of pics taken when we crossed the finish line, my arms are in the air and I'm doing some sort of Rocky victory dance. Now, I remember doing something like that for a few seconds (moments), but I guess that was the exact same time the photographer decided to take ALL of our 'team in action' pics.

I Talk of Legs

So, it happened. The TIR, that is. All this time, I had doubted what turned out to be a pretty solid training regimen. I had the stamina. I had the correct posture. My breathing technique was down. My hill training made me strong. Where I suffered----- Not STRETCHING enough before and after my runs! During my training for the TIR, not only was I slacking on some of the mileage, but I stopped doing something that I knew deep down was important. So, this blog entry is about how that played out...ahem

My first leg - The 6.3 mile stretch into Schulenburg. It had actually been marked as the second most difficult leg in the race which thankfully, I found out after my run. This was the leg I was most worried about because of the distance and that it would fall on the hottest part of the day. The result? My personal best time! I finished the leg well under an hour, which came to a little over 9 minute miles. It was one of THE BEST runs I have ever had! I was more than ready in every way (ahh except one, we'll get to that...). I had tremendous support from my van mates (the team I shared a van with). The stars aligned, and I thanked God many times for the success of that run.

My second leg - An easy downhill 4.2 mile run into Wallis. It was just about 2:00 AM when I took this run. I hadn't slept yet. The temperature had dropped significantly to around 40 degrees. I was feeling a little "twinge" under my right knee before the leg, but I thought I was well enough to run without my knee brace (I had run my first leg with a brace because of some weird sharp pains I had experienced the week before). Not even a mile into the run...my right leg was engulfed with pain. I had...(dramatic pause)...injured my IT Band. It's a muscle that runs from your gluteus to your knee. It's a very common muscle to injure, apparently, and so I guess it was my turn.

Looking back on it now, it was a long time coming. I wasn't stretching it like I had in the past. I can't point the finger at anyone but myself. It was all I could do NOT to burst into tears during the second leg. I was frustrated with myself and was pissed at the thought that I wouldn't be able to run my third leg, the so-called "best leg of the race." Then I thought to myself, "I am long overdue for a cruel twist of fate. Life isn't fair and sometimes I need to be reminded of this." However true that was, I was able to finish the leg with a 10 minute mile pace which is on average for me. I was so upset, I couldn't exchange the same social graces with everyone that I had earlier. I just nodded my head and moved on.

Between my second and third leg, I tried a few times to tell my van mates that I was injured. No one seemed to pick up on it at first. Finally, one man into our third set of legs, someone listened and my van mates began making a back up plan in the event that I had to forfeit. Then I contemplated further, "I did work hard for this and now this last leg was being taken away?! (like I owned it or something) Try everything you can to get yourself in a race mode." I started stretching like I had never stretched before. Keep moving. Keep moving. I worked on that muscle to the point where I had minimized the pain.

My third leg - the 5.17 mile stretch from Memorial Park to downtown Houston. It is referred to as the prettiest leg and while I'll agree, its purrrty, it ain't got nothing on Town Lake. That's right. I ran it....err, jog/walked it. My van mates stopped to check on me for every mile. I had developed two styles of running during that leg that Frankenstein would have be envious of. While I was able to stave off the sharp pains for most of the run, my last two miles nearly killed me. If it hadn't been for the strength of my left leg, they may have had to carry me into the van. During my last mile, I was joined by a concerned van mate for company and it was on! I surfaced onto the downtown streets, in between the Houston high rises, and the adrenaline kicked in. I suddenly was able to run like I had in that first leg. So much so that someone commented that I overcame my injury. Not so, but I finished that leg in a blaze of glory, only to be met by my support group. It was a triumph I desperately needed and it was a true testament to sheer determination and blinding stubbornness.

The aftermath? Well, it's recovery. The muscle will hurt until it is fully healed. I know that I will need to mash on it to work the knots out, a pain not unlike getting a tattoo, but it is necessary to get better and be race ready again...someday.

And now for the home stretch

This is the week. The TIR starts this Saturday. A week after I ran it last year, I knew I would let myself get sucked back in. Was it because of the glory? Bragging rights? The pint of ice cream I will devour GUILT FREE when I get home (IF I make it back alive)? How about D, all of the above.

When I quit running track in high school, I couldn't fathom ever wanting to run competitively again. I was done with that mess. Then, almost two years ago, I was inexplicably available during the weekend of the TIR. I had wanted to try training for it, because I was around co-workers everyday who had done it. I guess something rubbed off on me. The nerves set in right away. I thought I would help my training along by signing up for a couple of other, smaller relays and 5Ks. All the anxiety I had as a Track & Field athlete in high school came back to me, but I was determined to see it through. Something magical happened after the last TIR. I still wanted to run. I worked my way up to a half-marathon before I had to start training for this year's TIR.

But honestly, I equate this relay to something between a half-marathon and a full marathon. I'm running more than a half, but chopped into three legs. You would think that time would a good break for the body but really it's not. The lactic acid builds up, you get stiff, you don't really sleep, and when it's all said and done with, you feel like you've been hit by a bus. Or, at least I felt that way last year...

So why do it again?
I ask myself that a lot. It's like I keep forgetting. I'm running it again for the experience of it all. It's not just about the running. It's about who you run with, the racing community, and all the support that comes with it. I sort of want the whole experience at least one last time, and I think that will truly get it out of my system. My desire to train may be lacking now, and I'm tired of running and then being TIRED. But, I know in the long run that I'll be glad I tried. That, and you get a really neat-o medal at the end of the race. It was shaped like a cannon last year!

Languid but Lucid

Oh mercy...well, wouldn't ya know...it's T-minus 11 days (8 business days) until the TIR. Right now, I'm feeling a little nauseous and under-prepared, but at the same time ready...to get it over with. I lost some sleep this last weekend due to having too much fun, and I still haven't recovered. That is to say, every morning this week so far, I've laid in bed for an additional 30 minutes, drifting in and out of consciousness, trying to disguise the laziness by "mentally preparing" for the day.

I'm nauseous because of nerves. I'm nervous because of several things going on in my life right now, and one of those "things" is about my race pace during the TIR. I haven't worked on quickening my speed at all. Last year, I was nervous about my knees and how they would hold up. I was also concerned about pulling a muscle. Those things are still on my mind, but now I've added sloth-like pace worries to the list. I guess this is all normal stuff for a runner, except that I knew I wasn't pushing myself from day one of my training, and I still continued the same languid pattern. Silly human.

Why would anyone get the 'buttock backpack?'

I'm under-prepared in that I haven't exactly packed anything for the race, yet (yowza, I don't even have a backpack!). I have been "mentally preparing" for how I would pack my bag and what clothes I would wear. I always collect little toiletries here and there in case of weekend trips, vacations, and long-a$@&% relay races, so I know I'll have some stock of bare essentials. It's important to have everything organized and laid out in such a way that your clothes and race stuff are easy to find. This cannot be more true than when you run a weekend-long relay race! Last year, I had a Ziplock bag for each outfit I ran in, more Ziplocks organized by toiletry type, and what I thought was an easy breezy sport clutch for my money/license. My pseudo-purse ended up breaking (the zipper, that is), and the the bag I replaced it with broke, too (zipper be damned!). I think I ended up carrying around my money in yet another Ziplock bag.

Training Plan Follies

Wow, yikes. I have about two weeks left of February, then the first week of March, and then BAM! The TIR is here. I have had about a 75% success rate with the training plan....although, last Thursday I turned a 70 minute run into 15 minutes because of procrastination and competing priorities. My last LONG run was this past Sunday at 120 minutes. I ended up running (with a little walking) for about an hour and a half. The trail was one my brother had suggested, as I was staying at his place and hanging with the family. Little did I know that the trail was only about a mile or so long, so that left about 110 more minutes to kill. I ended up running all over town (they call me the fireman...cause that's my name...). It was somewhat pleasant though and kept the scenery interesting.

I'm as scared now, about the TIR, as I was when I saw this pic

Prep...paration?
Last Tuesday, I was suppose to take a 60 minute hill run but my running partner was MIA. By the time I found him, I was already back at my apartment and it was dark. So, I improvised and ran the stairwells of about nine of the three story buildings in my apartment complex. I lasted about 30 minutes. I have no idea if this aided in my training, but my attention span didn't wain.

Other times, I do try my best to run the amount I am required. I may not be running fast, but I'm getting my heart rate up and I'm moving around. Do I ever run more than what my training plan suggests? Well, I--

So this weekend, my Sunday is a three-run day, meaning, I run three different times during the day. That will be the true test of how prepared I am. And if I'm not prepared and fall flat on my face? I will be looking for another hobby very soon.

What a time to be addicted to migas

In Texas, it is hard to avoid Tex-Mex cuisine, and I don't care how Vegan, health-conscious, or disciplined you are, someone will coerce you to one of those fine dining establishments, if only for the happy hour specials. And, they always have vegetarian options. I'm addicted to migas these days. In fact, I've learned how to make them quite well. All that tortilla and cheese, well, is not good for running. It makes me feel like I'm running in slow motion. And, it should. My body hasn't ever turned a kind eye to dairy, so I know what I'm getting into.

Part of running is diet. You don't have to be on a diet, but you have to watch what you eat. I eat ok... with the exception of my Tex-Mex binges. I was told by a friend today that I wouldn't need those energy bars before a run (as much) if I ate better. And slept better. I felt like a slug after that comment, but I can see how it could make sense. So, I did some research to find out if there were any "energy foods" out there that I wouldn't be opposed to added in to my diet:
 - Oatmeal - Yes!
 - Almonds - I already eat these but they are so tiny. How can something so tiny pack any kind of punch?
 - Yogurt - I already got this
 - Baby Kitties - I wouldn't recommend this one...
 - Fruit - I'm never without bananas
 - Migas - ahh, ha...just kidding ;)
 - Popcorn - Got this...
 - Hummus - Got this..... :/
 - Veggies - Got---hey wait a second, I eat all of these foods already.

What about energy food sources?
 - Whole Grains - I have YET to find a 100% Whole Grain loaf of bread at HEB. I guess a trip to Whole Foods is in order
 - Iron - You mean licking an iron gate isn't enough? I have eat iron, too?
 - Vitamin E - I bought some Vitamin E pills because I heard they helped with skin health. Double score!
 - Zinc - Just saying the word makes me feel more energetic. I know you're suppose to take zinc when you're sick...guess more spinach is in order.

A Drive in the Cold

During these few cold days we've had in Austin, I have noticed people running through it, even after dark when the temperature drops to freezing or below. What drives these people to this type of dedication? Or, is it a hybrid of sheer determination and insanity? I tried to think back to a time when I would have done the same thing. It would have been during my first six months or so of "competitive running." By that I mean I was actually training for a race that I had to pay money to enter. I can remember coming home after a full day, including work, shopping, church, bible study, or what-have-you and it being about 10 PM. If I was tired, I didn't notice right away. I would jump into my warmest workout clothes and trot around the apartment complex a few cycles until I got bored or felt satisfied. I have even braved the darkness around the outer walls of my complex. You won't catch me doing any of this now. So what happened?

The best I can surmise is that long distance running is just not the exhilarating and scary hobby that it use to be. Even before I ran competitively, I would run at odd times, sometimes way later than I should have, all because I was more concerned with being in shape than anything else. I still want to be in shape and healthy, but in these last couple of years, I've turned a necessity into a complexity. Sure, I get some enjoyment, especially when I've just finished a long-@$%!* run. But, I'm starting to discover injuries and disabilities I've never noticed before, I eat a lot more because I'm hungry 24/7, and I spend more on my running shoes than on groceries for a month. I don't want to say this pearl has lost its luster. It just has been donning on me that this may not be a lifelong hobby. When my competitive side finally gets these running goals out tha way, I may settle down to my one mile a day routine. A runner of leisure if you will.

Rainy Runny Days

I finished my two running sets in the misty rain this past weekend. It felt great. As long as it's not frigid, lightening, or windy, rain all you want! I would like to think that rain offers hydration to the body. I may not be able to see that well, on account of the rain, but when my eyes aren't inundated with unsalted tears, I enjoy the rainy atmosphere much better. Of course, my favorite of all is the hot shower after it's all said and done with.

On Saturday, I conquered my first double-run day. That's the kind of day where you run twice. They were both 20 minute runs, so they weren't that bad...but it looks like I'm just getting started. I have several more to do in the weeks ahead. Sunday, I ran my longest run: 80 minutes. I don't know how far I went but I would like to think I went 7 miles, at least. I felt good after that run, but not physically. Mentally, I felt like I had really accomplished something. I was relieved. Physically, I felt all sorts of things...we'll just leave it at that.

It did give me a good excuse to eat like a starving maniac at the Alamo Drafthouse later that evening. I ate an appetizer, everything on my plate, and a little ice cream later on. I didn't feel guilty about it once. I was too hungry to feel guilty.

Treadmills are not an easy alternative

Even though I had only set the tip of my shoe on the rubber treadmill belt, I was already bored. I'm impressed by how far technology has come with treadmills, but that doesn't seem to dazzle me enough to stay on one for longer than a few minutes. Can anyone say hamster in a wheel?

Today it was dreadfully cold, and I had thought, for health reasons, I should run indoors; a decision that has put a hitch in my completed training plan. 18 minutes into the treadmill exercise, I was already more than ready to do something else. On the training plan, Tuesdays are hill running and sadly, that became18 minutes on a treadmill and 10 minutes on a stair stepping machine. I figured the imaginary stair stepping would better simulate hill inclines. Then I got bored.

When I was little, my neighbor had an early model treadmill that only moved when you started walking; no electricity needed. I thought it was the neatest thing. I wanted desperately to walk on it, just for a minute. Now I'm lucky if I last that long. These days, the longest I've been on a treadmills without repeated eye-rolling was 30 minutes.
So where does the fuel come from for my hatred? Fatigue had replaced eagerness by the time I got to the machine. Quite simply, I'd rather be somewhere else. That thought becomes a seed that sprouts into a weed in my head and soon enough I'm home giving Pickles a hug...Not really sure what else deters me. I guess I just need to be a good mood before I tackle a run on one of things, else I'm done for.

If only the childlike wonderment I had for the ancient treadmill would last me 45 minutes as an adult.

Finding something worth thinking about

Finally, I watched "Ultramarathon Man." It was about the guy who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. That's right. Consecutively. I was looking for some inspiration for the upcoming TIR, or even to run a marathon later this year, and this documentary, about Dean Karnazes' journey across the country, provides harsh realities with raw talent. The man makes running look effortless. He found his niche in life and can now run for a living while enjoying it all. Green with envy. The documentary really covers the race that was years in the making and all the people he meets along the way. What's more inspiring are the stories of the other runners who seem to pour out their souls to Karnazes along the trail. There are more stories of cancer survivors than anything else, which has led me to believe that it takes a life threatening event to inspire people to run. Overcoming death or health problems is a big driver here.

It's hard to say that Karnazes is simply your average runner in this film. His running resume is impressive and people flock to be near him. He is definitely a man for the people in that if he's not talking to other runners, running or resting, he's being interviewed by the media, the documentary crew, scientists, physicians, etc. Since running is his life, career, and expertise, he can say a lot about what he does. Little bits of wisdom and inspiration spring from his mouth every step of the way, even in the midst of adversity. I can only assume his book, Ultramarathon Man, is the same way.

So, Inspiration...
I will admit, it did inspire me. All things are possible through sheer force of will and determination.

I'm still lazy though. I was suppose to run 35 minutes yesterday and I think I got out about 20. Ok, not life threatening, but that certainly keeps me under slacker status. So crap. I guess this means I need to look inward *sigh* to find a drive. I feel like I use running as a 'step in the right direction.' If I go this way and accomplish this great feat, other things in my life will follow. That hasn't exactly worked yet, though in some aspects of my life it has promoted more positive thinking. With running comes pain and maybe that's what I've been putting off... Karnazes does recognize the pain with running, but I'm finding with my research of this man,  his wisdom of the sport is really challenging me to think about why I still pursue:


A reference from Dean Karnazes in Ultramarathon Man--

Why was I so compelled to push beyond all plausible limits of physical endurance to complete an endeavor that seemed so obscure and, some might say, irrational?  I wasn't entirely sure myself.  It's not that extreme athletes lack introspection; most whom I've encounter are quite reflective.  It's just that question of "Why?" is not a simple one to answer...

More often than not, the person asking "Why?" is looking for a brief psychobabble cliché to adequately explain the phenomenon, something like: "I run because when I was kid, my father chased me out of the house and down the street with a belt in hand."

To those who asked me "Why?" I would frequently offer up some shallow explanation like "I enjoy running." What I guess I should have said was, "Go out and run fifty miles, then you'll have your answer."

Because I was still searching for mine.

2011...The Year Begins

While I wait for "Ultramarathon Man" to come in the mail, I continue on with the relay training plan. It has been an extended wait (Netflix is resending the DVD to me, as the first one was broken in half) to hopefully gain some perspective on "why am I running the relay race again?" At this point, I've convinced myself that the Ultramarathon-inspired documentary will provide me with adequate inspiration.

The training plan thus far has unfortunately been altered as I go by my natural ability to be lazy....aka "lack of runners spirit." My laziness takes a backseat to inspiration, spirit, drive, that is, when I have it. Yesterday, I finally ran my first decent "long run" consisting of a 50 minute 4.78 mile jog. Granted, it was suppose to be a 70 jog, but considering I have skipped the last two Sunday long run days, I think it could be worse.

2011
Ok, so the new year is here; my official "One Year to Run" gig. Off to a good start in that I have exercised each day of the new year so far (day 3, yay!). My diet is... meh. BUT, I have given up the sauce. Have I given up tortilla chips? Well, I don't eat them everyday, exactly. I've committed to eating out once a week for dinner, at the most. Sunday brunches, if they happen to occur, will not count, as that has become a comforting ritual. I haven't made any official New Year's Resolutions, but I have enough of a committing spirit to try and eat right. I do know what happens when you run with bad food...You get addicted to crack.