Reflections Eternal

The cowards never started and the weak died along the way.-- Bill Bowerman

I moved back to my every other day program in order to prepare for a short race tomorrow. I'm still trying to get everything back to normal after Tuesday's bonk. It's really hot down here and there aren't any routes that I've discovered without a hill. Thankfully the hills should prep me for the Conquer the Cove Trail Marathon next June.

Usually when I run I can get my thoughts in order and come back focused and ready to go. The days when I don't run I find other ways to get myself in order. I went down to Starbucks and had an atypical Chai Greèn Tea Latte and read about Running Science in Barnes and Noble. Bookstores are an escape for me. You can open your imagination up to myriad topics and just runaway with whatever topic you choose. Usually I choose to peruse the running books or economics. Both topics fascinate me and are puzzles.

No two runners are the same. Each runner has a different foot type. People have different bone structure or pain thresholds. Steve Prefontaine was known for his ability to experience pain and push through it. So the puzzle is actually trying to figure out what type of runner you are. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What types of hydration works best for you. I can drink 100 gallons of Gatorade before and after a race but when I drink it during it tends to give me GI issues. Water tends to cause early cramping. I generally don't stretch. These are things that I've learned after running for so long. I am adding pieces to the puzzle and the picture is getting clearer.

Don't waste your off days. Enjoy them or make them productive in some way or another.

Book Review

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?-- Frida Kahlo

Born to Run : A hidden tribe, super athletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen

Christopher McDougall

Born to Run was a pleasant surprise. Overall, it is a true story that smartly adds drama and intrigue without losing the original idea. The original idea, I believe, is to tell the reader about an amazing people  with amazing abilities. Christopher McDougall plays an integral role in how the book plays out but he masterfully keeps himself out of the limelight from beginning to end.

The author gives background as to why he decided to seek out the legendary "Running People" the Tarahumara or Raramuri. McDougall, like the majority of runners, found himself oft injured. Heard about these Native Americans living in Mexico that could run forever and never get injured so he went on a mission to find the secret sauce.

In his search he met amazing people. The beauty of the book is how he gave human stories, historical fact, and scientific information. He seamlessly and organically kept the story moving by connecting one small piece and then giving that small piece an entire chapter to explain its significance. There were so many characters that at times I forgot that it was all true. The book is a historical account dressed as a novel.

Chapter fifteen changed my running life. It is also the chapter when he really began to reveal the secrets to running well, healthy, and for a long period of time. Although there was little mention of short distances much of his discoveries had application to all forms of running.

Born to Run, as I learned the more I read, is a story for ultra runners and folks that love running in general. The Tarahumara ran for pleasure as well as for life. They ran from intruders, they ran after food, and they ran to get from point A to point B even at 200 miles. This is not telling the story of the blazing fast track people. He does touch on some track legends like Jesse Owens but sprinters have no place at the table here. 

Many track legends of coaching like Joe Vigil, Arthur Lydiard, Vin Lanana, and Bill Bowerman are peppered throughout the story and he does a great job keeping all of them on equal footing. Bowerman did seem to get the short end of the stick in regards to the other coaches.

I would recommend reading this book because of the interesting characters, historical accuracy and scientific fact. I was surprised because I expected more of a reference guide instead of a story that continued to build impulse before letting you in on the secrets. Once you knew the secrets, you didn't get an aha moment because the book pulled you in to make the discovery by adding up the pieces and presenting it by letting you provide the answers.

No Run for the Weary

I have no fear of failure, provided I use my heart and head, hands and feet - and work like hell-- Charles Merrill

Yesterday I didn't run. That should be the end of this post right? Even on the days I don't actually leave my front door I still think about it constantly. I thought about whether or not I could go out for a quick run. I decided against it because of the four runs I did yesterday. I walked in after the fourth run and I felt horrible. I succeeded in pushing the limit but I paid the price. 

Although I didn't run I spent a good portion of the day thinking about this running life. I finished reading "Born to Run" which, I will give a book review later. I planned out some routes and I read tons of other blogs. I also learned more about humidity. I feel as though I didn't have to worry as much in New York or New Jersey but it is imperative that I am prepared for the onslaught of soggy weather.

I did go out for my morning run today on a short trot to a familiar place. I haven't really run the same loop twice until today. I wanted today to be a nice easy sort of deal that I didn't have to think about or struggle with the heat. I never want running to be a chore. I run when I want to and i push when I want to. On that same token, I relax when I want to.

Summer begins Fall marathon training and for all those running this Fall, the good news is, the really long runs start closer to September. I would say build your base now and get ready to crush the marathon this Fall. Find that joy in running over the Summer. Whether your joy is running with a group, crew, or club or if you like to take in the sights, try to get motivated by something other than completing the marathon in October or November. For some, that is motivation enough but for others it could be overwhelming to think that you will spend 16 weeks preparing to do something that many will think you are out of your mind for doing.

Four Times a Runner

Fortune favors the bold--Terence Phormio

Why in the world would I run four times today. I ran this morning because I love morning runs. I ran to Run Club. I did the Run Club route and then I ran home. If I can get somewhere on foot why not? The Run Club isn't very large so we all agree ona pace by feel and not time. Generally folks are happy to run a slower pace then they would on their own. I take a slow shuffle there and a slow shuffle back.

That isn't the only reason I ran four times today. I am trying to test the limits of the human body as Bill Bowerman once said. I'm running a Trail Marathon next year with an elevation of about 3,000 feet. I felt great this morning when I did 3.1 miles. I felt good on the 1.6 miles to a cafe near Grant Park. I felt solid on the first half of the run and then the heat and humidity coupled with hills took over. The good news is that this was my third run of the day.

One can't get better without taking risks and doing things that make them uncomfortable. Yes, I would like to get faster but that isn't what I mean by get better. I want to get better at running. I want to r longer with less effort. I want 3 to feel like 1 and 10 to feel like 3. I want to run EVERY DAMN DAY (see what I did there). The only reason for speed is in order to do more miles in less time with less recovery. It would be awesome to run 20 miles a day but how long would it take and will I be productive afterwards. I am not even sure if I ran 20 miles today that I could go and do it tomorrow.

I mentioned Bill Bowerman earlier and he has become my new muse of sorts. The Pegasus was designed to be the shoe for every runner, every day and I love that about it. I am every runner. I will never win a marathon or a 5k but I am on the streets and trails most days doing what I love. Bowerman didn't start running until later in life. He was a football coach and former player yet he is legendary in the world of running. He made me believe that I can impact running without being any good at doing it. There is an old saying that those who cannot do, teach. It is unlikely at o will ever cross the finish line of a marathon in under 3 hours but if I can motivate or inspire someone else to do it I've done something tremendous. Someone I know once said that if you inspire one person, you've done your job.

The Humidity Wins... The... Humidity... Wins!!!

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science-- Albert Einstein

I was so excited today when I found the other side of the Atlanta Beltline. I had heard so much about it but hadn't seen more than a half mile stretch of it. Although I have found that short strip to be pretty much a place where I want to run every day, I am a long distance guy and I need at least a 6 mile out and back to stay consistent. I finally read a map properly and realized that on a recent run under the Krog Street bridge, in another 3 blocks or so is where the Beltline picks up. I saw the sign and took off gleefully up the paved path. There were a lot of offshoots but it was so humid and hilly I decided against getting lost today. 

I started to hit my stride and enjoy some more awesome street art.

That enjoyment ended abruptly... again. Once again my headphones choked under the pressure of my abundant sweat. I couldn't get them to stay in after about two miles or so. I had to place them in my pocket and continue on without a soundtrack. This time I did do the obnoxious thing and ran with music sans Yurbuds. I did turn it down when I saw other runners and particularly when Raekwon spoke about his $500 jeans on "The Morning".

On my turnaround I felt really weak. The humidity started to kick my butt. As I reached the hills it became harder and harder to maintain my pace. I looked at the forecast and it said 72 degrees and cloudy. I threw on my old reliable Miler and went for the run. The weather people lie I tell you, all lies. Going up the hill I felt like it was Harlem Hill in Central Park New York on the third loop of an 18 mile race. In reality the climb was maybe half of Harlem Hill and it was closer to mile 5 instead of 14.

My fitness has suffered a little with the move but Atlanta has delivered somewhat of a rebirth for my running career. My fitness will return but my love for running has only grown and continues to do so. I don't know what tomorrow will bring but I can't wait for my alarm to go off and spring out of bed to hit the road on my next adventure.

Wet Peaches

Innovation can best be defined as man's attempt to create order, in his own mind and in the universe around him, by taking risk and creating risk.-- Peter Drucker 

Ah, the Fourth of July. Cookouts and fun in the sun with fireworks. Not this year. I spent it running the AJC Peachtree Road Race. The Peachtree Road Race is the most popular race in Atlanta. It had over 54,000 finishers. The main reason for the lack of cookouts and fun and n the sun was because of the torrential downpour that ensued upon the beginning of my wave.

I've run in the rain before but this one was a distraction. It could be because I was moving at a solid pace in a new city before the sky truly opened up and I couldn't rely on familiarity to pull me through the course. The Yurbuds headphones whose motto is a guarantee not to fall out, fell out at the 2.5 mile mark of a 6.2 mile race. Needless to say I was really upset.

A little sidebar about my love for music and the combination of running and music. I am actually writing this post to Mozart's 40th Symphony to give some clarity to my thoughts. I very rarely, if ever, run without music. Lots of people feel that runners shouldn't run with music but I feel like Eminem when he responded to Will Smith and cursing in one his songs. I run to escape and enjoy the view. I wish I could do everything with music in the background. Imagine if someone did a movie about you. What songs would play for graduation day or the birth of a child. What song would play after your first marathon or while you binge watch Breaking Bad n Netflix. What music would accompany every moment in your life. Everything from that 750 millionth trip to Starbucks or that moment right before you interview for your dream job? Amazingly, at this moment, my shuffle went for Mozart Symphony no.40 to Aida: Marcia E Ballabile by Verdi. That just shifted my mood so I'll get back on track.

After I slowed to get my headphones to not keep falling out I figured that I could drop 20 seconds per mile to get back to the previous pace (I know, bad math). The stupid headphones were so slperh after the sweat that they wouldn't stay in for one step. I had to just carry them and run without music to a dud screaming Beer and T-Shirts. That is another reason I run to music. That, plus the incessant, your almost there, when you are 40% complete. In any event, I then ran into the first of a series of hills, after losing my tunes. Then the rain picked up and I could no longer avoid the massive puddles and streams of water cascading towards me because of the downhill and the amount of rain.

I know it sound like I'm complaining but I'm just giving a play by play. The rain was a welcome relief from the heat. If not for the rain, it would have been 95 degrees and humid. I would take rain over that any day. I'll give the headphones one more shot with the different size that came with it. On top of that, I am only tech savvy enough to write a blog and take photos on the run. I might have just put them in wrong but after my next run, if they fall out, I will be upset and think of some analogy to describe what I will do to the salesperson at Best Buy and to the exhibitor at the Health and Fitness Expo.

I met a few good people before and after the race that I may or may not see again (I didn't take names) and I truly enjoyed the race. Although my performance wasn't what I wanted, I felt good and sort of fast on my trip on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, GA. 

Pre-Race Jitters

Successful people have a bigger fear of failure than people who've never done anything because if you haven't been successful, then you don't know how it feels to lose it all.--Jay-Z

Tomorrow I will run the largest 10k in the works with approximately 65,000 other folks. The AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4th is kind of a big deal. The weird thing for me is that I don't typically get that serious race day feel unless it's a half-marathon. Recently the feeling only comes up when it's a full marathon. I felt that way right up until the point that I walked into the Expo. There is something about this race that gave it sort of a marathon feel. I started to get my game face on.

So I'm walking around this place and I'm talking to the exhibitors and then I see a booth for Jeff Galłoway, legendary running author and coach. It was super exciting to meet a guy in his seventies, whose written over ten books about running and can still do a marathon a month. 

I've not trained for this race nor will I attempt to PR here because it's hot, there will be 7 million people running, and I just want to enjoy my first race in Atlanta. That said, I feel as though tomorrow will not be a run of the mill 10k. I want to go out strong and finish strong and pick off as many as I can.

One last note about Jeff Galloway. Just in the brief moment that we spoke, he encouraged all types of runners to get better at their running. He walked people over to other places just to help them out. He spoke with such joy with everyone about running it became contagious.