Running on the Inside

Absence makes the...

2009-08-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Heart grow weaker, the lungs to diminish and the legs to atrophy...

All that in only two weeks! Or is that spelled 'weak'???
I know it was only two weaks but, seriously, could they have gone ANY slower? I didn't take the time off because I wanted to or was too busy... I took it off because, I had to! Remember Psycho? Yeah, me and the Race! That was the first IT injury (right side) for which I spent a little over 24 hours recovering from. Then a little over two weeks ago, I managed on a rather easy run at the Gov's to injury the other IT (left side)!? Granted this one was nothing new, I still decided to take it easy and call it a run... Until the next day when I had already committed to getting a run in with a friend. So, out I went... Not so good!

SO, I took two weeks off as advised by just about, well, EVERYONE!!! That was ok, I knew I needed the rest to properly recover. What was not ok was that I still proceeded to eat like a runner! I gained almost five pounds in two weeks!!! My body had adjusted to the 25+ miles I was putting a week and learned to burn the 'fuel' I was intaking. I use the term 'fuel' because, it sounds better than saying cheese burgers and pizza, doesn't it?

Also, during my time off I was able to think about what I needed to change in my running to accomplish the things I want in with my running. I went this week and to get a stride analysis. But, was told to come back when I could run without pants to be sure... So, I told the wife, "Jenn wants me to come back when I can run without pants." She didn't find this as funny as I did???

I went back Friday, got the analysis done and determined I pronate! I know shocking, right? I bought inserts for the still good trail shoes and invested in new Saucony Glide 2 street shoes. I figure the investment of $150 to hopefully, offset $3000 in knee surgery was a good thing...

Next week, back to running for real!

No excuses, No injuries!
Just Running for the sake of the RUN!

hope to see you out there...
el mono blanco

Injury, Setbacks, and Accountability...

2009-08-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

Injuries...
That's the easy part... While running Psycho, I injured my IT Band on my right knee with only a couple miles left in the Walk... I hesitate now in retrospect to call it a Race. Realizing, I spent a disproportionate amount of time walking to time actually spent running!?

The pain was such that running down hill was completely out of the question...as for walking, well let's just say if not for gravity and fellow walkers I might have sat down? Yet, I pushed on, knowing my family would be at the finish line. My kids had to see me RUN across the the finish line! I had to finish! I would not quit!

So, I did the right thing and took some time off after the race. I slept until 9:00am the next day. Got up at 5:30am on Monday and went to work. After work, at 5:00pm, my time off was over! I ran a good 5 miles on the trail. And proceeded to run three more times that week. The injury was still there, I had just learned to run to my threshold and stop. By the end of the week all was not well so I really took time off. Five whole days...

The next week we were back to running! Only now, I had been joined by my 7 year old and my wife in earnest. I logged 25 miles that week and little man did about 15!? This from me who had ONLY really run street leading up to the race and averaged 15 miles a week myself. They say a trail mile is like one-and-a-half on the street.

I took a couple days off due to life interferences and the went back to it. Until this past Monday when, while running in the mud, injured my left IT!!! So, I have now been off ALL week having learned my lesson. Tomorrow, I go back to it!

Setbacks...
This is a little harder... Since, I have not been running as much these past few weeks, I have not continued my weight loss. Which was one of the reasons I began running as you will remember. I still have about 10-15# to go. This week, I will refocus and get back on track (if not trail) and aim once again for those goals!

Accountability...
This is the hardest... When you run who are you accountable to? For me firstly, I am accountable to myself. My Run Time is what I refer to my "Head Time" the time I have to let it all go. I try to make it my worry tree. (google it if you don't know)
Secondly, I am accountable to my family. They are the biggest reason I run. I want to show them I can be a better person inside and out! But, they don't push and that is fine for me.
Thirdly, I am accountable to the Tribe. These are the people who make up my running family. Without them. I may not be running today or tomorrow or even next week. But, I do RUN!
Fourthly, I run for those who ask me why?I run for those who want to run with me and learn and do.
Fifthly. One day I WILL RUN for those who can not!

So, next time you head out to find yourself or even lose yourself on the trail think about why you run and who you run for...

Without pain, it's just a walk!
That being said pain is good, hurt is bad!

Trailing Life...

2009-08-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I got the opportunity to introduce my wife, Jen, my son, Judson (almost 7) and my sister, Kim to my new lifestyle. Any time I can tell someone what I am doing and acomplishing is great! But, if I can show them it is AWSOME! It was just a quick little 2 mile or so loop. Took us 45 minutes. Everyone laughed, no one cried and little complaining was heard. Mind you all of this was at 5:00 pm.

I have new converts, new members of the Tribe. They may never run with the 'group' because as one put it... 'I'd feel silly.' I reminded her we all felt silly once and some of us still do.

I felt silly around 7:45 am this past Saturday. I'd never run a race... but, I'd paid my fees (and my dues too I suppose) and I said I would. So, there I was feeling silly. Still a bit, or more, over weight. Ill prepared physically. I had my supplies. Thought my head was right. The call was given and we went...

The first few miles were a breeze. I passed the first aid station, no problem. Then came some real climbs. The second station I torpedoed the Gatorade and switched to water. Mile 9 still felt decent having done mostly intervals.

Then the bottom fell out... Something pulled in the outside of my right knee! I couldn't run down hill!? That's where I was gaining time? I was good up til then, under 3 hours and felt strong. What to do? I couldn't quit, I wouldn't quit! I wanted a time behind my name in my first race. Not, a DNF! I pushed on... the intervals becoming mostly power hikes with short jogs thrown in.

At one point around mile 14 my legs, specifically my quads, threatened to call it quits... So, did I.

So, the clocked showed 5:05:56 and I RAN across the finish line holding my daughters hand, I heard the beep! My first race, my first finish, my first victory! They can't take that away!

I'll go again next year. And, next year I will beat the trail again...

For mine has become, The Trailing Life...

originally posted 7/14/09

Psycho!? Who me???

2009-08-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

As a matter of fact, yes!Tomorrow, I will run my first ever trail race! I decided to start small and run the 15 miler. I mean hey, I'd rather die falling off a mountain rather that falling down my front steps, right? So, no 5K to start my life as a runner!

In approximately 24 hours the anticipation will rise to a fever pitch, the pot of emotions will boil over and the gun will go off! Some will go for distance, some for speed and still others, like me, will just go...

See you on the other end!

dav

originally posted 7/10/09

Reasonability...

2009-07-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

WHY?
I began running out of a quest to both displace weight and anger. The weight has taken care of itself, the anger will come and go... I never thought I would become a runner. I was always a sprinter. But, then again, that was 20 years and some 80+ pounds ago. I've been running now since April 5, so that makes today officially my third month. Maybe, I will revisit the scene of the beginning...

REASONS?
So, Thursday night during an after dark trail run, The Snowman asked me if my reasons for running had changed? I pondered this for only a moment before I replied, "Yes and no. My reasons have evolved." And much like myself and my running they have. I continued..."I will always have reasons to run.... and there will always be reasons not to run. So, in the end I just RUN!"

I guess, what I was trying to tell myself is that we can all make excuses but, few of us make time... They say you have to take time to make time. I've taken and made mine.

Running then becomes a discipline, a lifestyle, and ultimately a choice...

As, The Snowman reminded me..."The difference between a sprinter and a distance runner...is age."