Calm Before The Storm

Tomorrow morning I plan to get up early and have one last, long, slow, purpose-less run. Next week I begin 18 weeks of training for NYC, and the pressure will be on to run and run right. Even though I want to train right, I'm not pushing for a PR as I understand NYC is not the place for that. Maybe Austin or Houston in 2010?

Unlike past marathon pursuits, I'm swamped at work this time and I don't expect to be chronicling much of this one, but I wanted to record this moment as I'm about to step up to the starting line for this tortuous journey. I've been base building since April 1, and I've dropped 11 lbs to a svelte (for me) 154. I haven't been this light since college. The magic this time was cutting down on portion sizes, especially at dinner. I've long eaten right, next to no fried stuff, no junk food, no donuts, lots of cottage cheese, a ton of cottage cheese, no ice cream, no burgers, no fries, no onion rings, no cold beers unless it's more than 90 degrees out, no Captain-and-Cokes except nights and weekends, no milkshakes, no key lime pies, no tiramisu, no cake ... well, except this one, my first cake this year, for my babies, who are babies no more, because two days ago they officially became ... TEENAGERS!!! Happy Birthday S&S!!!

Base Runner

It rained buckets last night. Windy too. I could see our trees in the backyard struggling mightily and noisily to stay grounded. Today's run is going to suck, I thought to myself, and went back to sleep.

At 6:30, half an hour after my alarm went off, I got up and looked outside. It was barely drizzling, quiet, overcast, with low gray clouds drifting slowly across the sky. It was just beginning to brighten.

Since starting back up in April, I've run a couple three times a week, 4 miles each time. Long(er) run on the weekend, maybe 5 or 6 miles. Last weekend I busted out and did 12. I planned to do it again this weekend.

I set out just before 7:00 and headed south, carrying $20 and 1 GU.

At mile 3.83, I ran alongside a wooden fenced-in backyard and heard a dog barking inside. If you know dogs, there's barking, and then there's barking - you know when something doesn't sound right. I peeked between the fence cracks and saw a German Shepard running back and forth, and a Chocolate Lab hanging onto the side of the pool with only 2 front paws out on the deck. I went to the front of the house and saw lights on inside; how could they not hear what was going on? On the other side of the house, the fence gate wasn't locked, but I wasn't sure about the German Shepard. I rang the doorbell. No answer. Maybe they left early. I knocked. A normal looking lady in a black dress answered.

"I think your dog fell into the pool"

She disappeared quickly and then I heard the barking stop. I went back to the fence and saw both dogs running along. Our Daisy fell into our pool once and it was not a good thing. That Lab owes today to you Daisy.

At mile 5, it starting raining. Then pouring. Instead of making for a crappy run, it was awesome! I sped up and clicked of the next few miles no problem. Running in the rain, I always remember back to Tampa, running in an exhilarating downpour.

I also spit less when it rains.

I never used to spit when running, until I ran this 20K with Susan. 5 minutes into my first run with her, she lets out a nice-sized dollop. It reminded me of the thing glass blowers start with to blow giant vases. 6 minutes into my first run with her, she mutters an apology and something about growing up on a farm. Ever since, I've had uncontrollable urges to spit while running.

Somewhere past mile 7, S&S&S drove by on their way out. They offered to give me a ride out of the rain but this was too much fun to give up! I got a bottle of water, took my GU, and moved on.

Google Maps had measured it at 12.2 miles using the highway, but at 11.19 miles, I met up with S&S&S at my destination - the 2009 Dallas Arthritis Walk. We've known Emily Z since she and our 7-th graders were in kindergarten. She has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and we've attended this walk the past few years. It's now an annual ritual and we're happy to support her - she was even the "Walk Hero" this year!

12 miles last week, 11 this week. I think my base is coming back.

Washington DC

Alas I did not get to run last Monday morning in DC. Some serious libations the previous night at an unmarked establishment near Dupont Circle put a dent in those plans. I had to look up my credit card receipt later to figure out where we had been. Highly recommended though!

Nevertheless, the next day, Sam and her buddies visited DC's finest monuments, recreating routes I had run several times before, usually in the pre-dawn hours, usually alone. Actually, always alone. More than once, I thought back to times when I ran past the White House, or ran down the Mall, or stood at the Lincoln, and had to share all that space with literally only 2 or 3 other sorry souls. Not this Easter Monday morning ...

Sam and I at the WH

Clarie, Max, and Sam

One of my favorites ... anyone know who / where this is?

Visiting Abe

I see this ... I think MCM ... I feel pain!

Baltimore and Volleyball

We're in Baltimore this weekend, Sam and I. That's her sports name. We're at the Northeast Qualifier volleyball tournament playing at the 13's level. It's a great fun time for the girls, going out of town, staying in a hotel, hanging out with the team ... like an all-expense paid vacation. Which it is.


Sam and Max flirting with the boundaries of Coach K's list of approved food items.


Max (Libero #4) with Sam on her right.


These girls are super-fit!

I finally started running a week ago. It was a killer. Started on April 1 with 4 miles. Had to run-walk some of it. Signed up for NYC too on April 1. $187 big ones. That was a killer too - not sure which one hurt more.

At least that got me ready for running in Baltimore. Went with M. to the Inner Harbor, passing Camden Yards along the way. What a nice place to run and the weather was beautiful.





It rained today, so we ran on the treadmill at the hotel. We might get to run outside one more time, and then on Monday I'll be in DC. Can't wait to get out on the Mall for old time's sake.

Fatted The Run

I had no business trying to run 6 miles today. When Tiger Woods says something like "I fatted the ball into the water", that's how I felt, like I fatted out a run today. Barely.

Running has taken such a back seat that my stamina is nowhere near what it used to be. In the past 5 weeks, I've been to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Houston, Austin, Nashville, and Pittsburgh again. Short in and out trips, but still. I've only eeked out a run every weekend or so, and I haven't been keeping up with your blogs. I'm sorry.

I'll get back eventually. There's something waiting at the end of the year that I can't miss, won't miss.


Finally!

How Many Miles?

Steel Town

While Steeler fans were whipping themselves into a frenzy down in Tampa, I was on a flight to Pittsburgh (for work). I caught the coin toss on radio moments after getting into a cab, followed by the opening kickoff, and the first score. More action was caught on the lobby TV while 3 of the world's slowest travelers attempted to check in. Two of them (the male ones), left together apparently sharing one room - a sad and cruel reality of today's business travel that I have never experienced first-hand and hope to avoid like the plague.

I turned on the TV in my room to continue the game, drew the curtains, and found myself staring at an eerily empty Three Rivers Stadium, lit up like a Christmas tree, the surrounding area completely desolate.


I caught a clearer view this morning and traced a path from my hotel across the river to the stadium. After work, I decided to make the run while it was still warm, i.e. 30's, before it turns cold tomorrow (20's).


There will be a victory parade downtown tomorrow at noon, ending one block from my hotel. They expect more than 250,000 crazies from the Steeler Nation. Not tonight though.

New Masthead!

Check it out ... thanks Susan!

I did my part to stimulate the economy. Holiday discount still available from the Masthead Factory!

I ran 4 miles today for the first time in 2 weeks. It was too frigid to go out last weekend, and work has been keeping me too busy. But at least I got a new masthead :-)

Obama!

I can't let this day pass without posting something, even if this is a running blog, and I've barely been making it lately as a weekend-warrior-runner.

Much more than my running, I can't wait for America to get back on track. It's time to reverse course and make it better for the generation behind us.


"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
- President Barack H. Obama

26PT2

As if I needed another reminder, this is what I caught on the drive home this evening. I wish I had thought about it first, but my creativity only went as far as "262" and a black magic marker.


I've been thinking a lot about 26.2 lately, like almost every day, which is odd because I haven't been running. Yet, reminders like this one tonight are everywhere.

When I'm not running, every day seems like a perfect day for running. 79F (not a typo), sunny, and windy yesterday? Perfect. 26F (not a typo) and freezing rain tonight? Sounds perfect too. Am I nuts?

When I'm running, I can't stop thinking about stopping. When I'm not running, I can't stop thinking about running. Is this insane?

I've browsed the 2009 marathon calendar so many times, I should start my own online dating service for runners seeking races.

Yesterday marked two years since my marathon PR at Dallas White Rock. It was a bittersweet anniversary. My PR was fueled by adrenaline and temps in the mid-30s. Yesterday was unseasonably warm, average finish times plummeted, and one runner sadly did not make it home. My condolences to the family.

It's such a sad story each time this happens. My soul searching continues even though I already know the answer. I'll find another race to run. I'll train. I'll push. I'll keep going. And then I'll take whatever the race gives me.