Monthly Archives: April 2009

“Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it”  Steve Prefontaine

If you don’t know about “Pre”, I would highly recommend you change that.  He changed track and field forever.

This past weekend I took the family to a local park with running trails and we took a little hike on a trail in the woods.  I got to enjoy watching my 5 year old son run through the woods.  Watching him go care free running through the woods just reminded me of how much I enjoy the basics of running.  I remember having the chance when I was younger running with my mom, dad and grandfather (pop).  The idea of no ipod, no watch and and no GPS is still attractive to me today. 

I still make sure that there are runs I make that bring me back to the simplicity of running and what it really is about.  As I look at the human body, we were created to run and created to run.  God created animals to run in sprints and he created man to run with endurance to eventually catch the animal when it got tired.  Knowing this, there is always that instinct I get when I run that this is what my body was created to do.  But of course that does bring me to a weekness as I am always trying to run like I am trying to catch dinner!  Sometimes I need to remember to run for the joy of running.  Like I am in the woods and not a care in the world.

So I was prepared to run the Greenville marathon in October and then do the Goofy Challenge is January.  I had not really decided until recently about the Greenville marathon but it will always have a special place in my heart since it was the first course that I broke 4 hours on.  Well I looked at the web site yesterday and wouldn’t you know it, they cancelled the full marathon and only are doing the half.  It throws my plan off but more than that, it is sad to see it not being run.  That makes two small marathons I have enjoyed that have been cancelled now.  The Tybee Island is another that was cancelled as they are also just doing the half marathon.

I think from a timing perspective I will not do a fall marathon.  I will do the half on Thanksgiving and then get ready for the Goofy in Disney.  That is the worst part about some of the smaller marathons, I guess it makes it hard to survive.

I am really looking forward to my 5K coming up on May 9th.  I feel healthy which is always good!  My speedwork is going well as I have consistently been hitting my goal times.  I am just trying to maintain the progress the next couple of weeks.

I was having a conversation with my almost six year old son this week about his two year old brother.  The discussion turned to bodily functions.  Is was my son’s understanding that at a certain age grown-ups no longer have those kinds of problems about where to use the restroom and carrying it with you if you know what I mean.  I think he was a bit horrified after further conversation he should not judge to quickly and that might not always be the case.  Whether it be getting up in age or being a runner.  Things happen!

I think this came to a bit of a shock to my son.  Things happen during long runs we don’t always want to talk about, now don’t they.  That is all I have to say about that right there!  Have a great long run weekend and enjoy the weather.  And yes stay close to the bathrooms or porta potty!

I am just over two weeks away from the 5K I have been preparing for.  I have no idea how I will do.  I really have not run a 5K in a couple of years where I really pushed myself.  In fact it might have been longer than that.  I would really like to set a PR but just not sure how I will do.  I have been pleased with my training so far and feel that I am able and it really will depend on how I am feeling that day.  It is not the easiest course though.  There are plenty of hills on the course if I remember correctly.  Speedwork and Tempo work has been going well though.

Always the week of the Boston Marathon I get excited and have a desire to qualify for the event.  Having said that it seems that other goals usually take over importance and that gets put on the back burner.  It is something I think I do want to begin to look at.  I get an extra 5 minutes when I turn 40 which I will appreciate but as of right now I need a 3:15 to qualify.  It will certainly take some work.

I think it is something I am looking at and weighing how hard I want to go after it.  I don’t know if this year is the year I try but I anticipate if it is not this year next year would be my goal.  Going to continue to think about it though.

2:08:42.  That was the winning time for the Boston marathon for 2009.  Deriba Merga from Ethiopia.  That is still a pace that just completely amazes me.  I hope to qualify for Boston in the next couple of years but it will take quite the effort to pull it off.  For me to qualify for Boston this year I will need to put down a 3:15.  That is a pace I am not certain if I can do but we will see.  If somehow I can pull that off I will be just over an hour from this years winning time.  Simply amazing to be able to run 26.2 miles at less than a 5 minute per mile pace.  Props to you!

“When you have the enthusiam and the passion, you end up figuring out how to excel”

Deena Kastor

Never be afraid to make some changes.  In my present training plan it is similar to one I put together last year.  I suddenly remember how at one point last year at this same time I was not fond of it.  I made changes and was much happier with the plan and the results.  For some reason this year I followed the same plan at first and made the same changes.  I will try to remember that next year.  It had too little speed and tempo work and more distance than I prefer.  I have cut back on some of what I might call junk miles and have more sprints and tempo running involved.  That being said you have to like you training.  It needs to motivate you and get you reasonably excited to get out and run.  Never be afraid to mix it up and make some changes.

Everyone once in a while I like to throw something different at my training and something I can enjoy.  On Sunday I did a one mile test run.  I have been curious as to what my time in a one mile run would be.  I really enjoyed running it yesterday.  I did a 1/2 mile warmp up before I started and a nice cool down.  Basically in full a 15-20 minute workout.  It is really enjoyable to go out and do something different for a change.  I would say keep that in mind and be sure to enjoy your training and mix it up a little.  Never be afraid to throw something in that you can enjoy and have fun with.  Running around the track and knowing you just have four laps it really nice after weekends of high mileage.

I will probably keep this as a Sunday tradition for a while as long as it motivates me.  That is what I would say is find a workout that will motivate you.

One of the things I would like to toss in from time to time are helpful tools and resources to me as a runner and if they are helpful to you, great.  I get a lot of information from websites, forums, podcasts, newsletters, magazines, friends and many others.  I would like from time to time to share with you some of the helpful ways to develop yourself as a runner.

One of the websites that I use is www.disneyrunning.com.  I really enjoy this website and the runners who are on it.  If you have any desire at all to run any race at Disney I strongly suggest you take a look at this web site.  It has helpful forums discussing races, training, nutrition and any other things involved with running.  For someone like me who spends most of the time running alone, it is nice to know you have others out there as well doing the same.  It helps some of that feeling of isolation that comes from running alone.

So be sure and stop by and take a look.  Happy running!

As you determine which races you will run for 2009 one thing I encourage is to keep it fun.  I am always a big fan of supporting the local races but sometimes it is also nice to reward yourself with something fun.  Pick out a place you would like to travel to and find a race.  I enjoy traveling for the marathon but I have also done it for a 10K as well.  Sometimes the 10K can be even more fun as your body can enjoy the traveling more.

It is always good to find a way to reward yourself after weeks and months of training.  It gives you a change and something to look forward to besides just finishing the race.

Nothing much has changed but I did decide to add one extra race for this year.  I am still doing the Susan Komen in May and the Peachtree in July.  I am doing the Atlanta Half on Thanksgiving and the goofy challenge in January 2010.  I did decide to add one more.  I am going to run the Greenville Marathon on October 31.  I could not resist.  As soon as I finished the same race last year I said I would not do it again.  (I have said that enough times)  A couple of reasons, first it is pretty sentimental for me.  It is my PR course and the first course that I broke 4 hours on.  Secondly I really do enjoy the other factors around the race.  I love the time of the year, the course is pretty and it is close to home.

I am not trying to a course PR of anything but just want to enjoy it.  Especially with the Goofy Challenge ahead and I just want to take it easy. 

I thought my cold running was over for the year!  Bundle up today and hit the road.

This is from the book “Put your dream to the test” by John Maxwell.  “Passion is a critical element for anyone who wants to achieve a dream.  Why?  Because it is the starting point of all achievement.  I have never seen anyone anywhere at any time achieve anything of any value without the spark of passionate desire!  It provides the energy that makes dreams possible.

I would encourage you to write down what you are passionate about.

This has been a really captivating thought for me this week.  As I think about the life of MLK, how many times was he arrested?  From the best I can tell it was about 30.  How many set backs and how many confrontations?  How many of people on his own side were questioning his methods much less his opponents.  As I look back on his life, I see nothing but tension.

But I also see what tension did for him.  Tension helped him focus.  Tension fueled his passion.  Tension helped define his purpose.  Tension made him resolute.

I would encourage you to take a good look at the tension you might face and allow it to work in you.  Don’t shy away from it.  Tension meant he was on the right path.  If you find the road easy and the burden light, you will know you are not on the right path.  However, if you find it difficult and see challenges each step of the way you will know that you are right where you need to be.

I wanted to piggy back on the quote from yesterday that really got me to think about what that mean.  Here are some definitions of the word tension:

1. The act or process of stretching something tight.
2. The condition of so being stretched; tautness.

Think about this with yourself.  Can you truly say like Martin Luther King Jr that you are not afraid of the word tension?  The biggest potential of your growth will come from the word tension.

From one of my favorites

I am not afraid of the word tension.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968), American civil rights leader Nobel Peace Prize winner