Not the Victory, but the Action...Part 1

The following series of posts are completely selfish. As I embark on my first marathon, I've been doing quite a bit of reflection as to how I got myself into this mess. Some of it may be new to you and some of it may be old news. Feel free to read, feel free to comment, feel free to skip it and wait for me to get over myself.

"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory"
-Anonymous. Posted on the southwest entrance to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE.

I never intended to be a runner.

In the Fall of 2005, my doctor told me that my breathing difficulties were due to mild anxiety attacks. He left me with 3 options:

1. Medication.
   
2. Decrease my coffee intake.
3. Exercise.

The attacks weren't going away and I wasn't a fan of medication. Not with a baby in the house. Even I have better parenting skills than that. Coffee intake? Please. That left me with Option 3.

Exercise. I had tried that a few times. I'd go to the gym, mess around on with circuit training, play some racquetball, etc. The lure of it would fade quickly however. Nevertheless, I followed doctor's orders. Since I had a new iPod, I thought I'd lace em up and go out for a run. It's easy, it's cheap. How bad can it be? After about 1/2 mile, it was pretty bad. Too many hills. Too damn cold. I walked back home.

Fast forward to late-May of 2006. My sister had mentioned that she was trying this new running program, the C25K program. Essentially, it's a combination of running and walking and you build up to running 30 minutes straight. It sounded like a good idea, but I was busy wrapping up my 3rd year of teaching plus finishing up my Masters. At the end of the school year, I gave it a try. I had some extra time since I wasn't taking grad classes, so I loaded up the iPod and rolled out on the roads with a new plan.

Since I didn't own a stopwatch, I would time myself by the songs. Being a former TV producer helped because you have to be pretty damn good at adding obscure times. It was primitive, but it worked for me. Besides, in the back of my mind I couldn't imagine even finishing this program, so there was no way I was going to buy a stopwatch.

Sign #1 that I was a Runner: The Stop Sign.

I stuck with the C25K schedule. I had noticed that I had a lot more energy, had lost some weight and was pretty motivated because of it. I liked running, but it wasn't until I had to run 20 minutes straight where it hit me. I was getting pretty gassed towards the end of the run. I was struggling, but I was determined. I saw a stop sign in my neighborhood and I told myself that if I could get past the stop sign, I'd stop there. I ran past the stop sign and just kept going. My body and my mind both found an extra gear and I finished out the run.*

I was hooked.

20*

It's done.  I travelled 20* miles.  I would say that I ran all 20*, but there were some issues:

Issue #1:  Ice 

It was 40 degrees when I ran this morning, but there was still a lot of frozen runoff on my path.  Some were pretty bad and I couldn't really run on the side of the road, so I walked it.  I figured I didn't get this far to get injured.  Speaking of injury....

Issue #2:  IT band

Mr. IT Band made a guest appearance at around Mile 10.  From about mile 11 on, I found myself in a run/walk pattern.  Usually, I can adjust and run through the pain, but at mile 19, it was so bad my running pattern was completely altered.  I stopped and walked the last 1/2 mile home.  

Is it 20*?  Who knows.  I was in forward motion for 20 miles, so that should account for something I guess.  

The IT band baffles me.  I've had no problems with it during training.  Here's what I'm telling myself so that I don't freak out in a couple of weeks:

• Icy roads contributed to me running on a LOT of uneven surfaces.
• The route I took consisted of a lot of hills.  Something that you really haven't had to deal with on your long runs.
• I went out too fast.  I was at least 1:00/mile under my usual long run pace.  I dialed it down after about 6 miles or so.

What's next?  Ibuprofen, ice and The Stick.  Religiously.  

My question to BlogLand is:  Should I even try all of my mid-week runs (3 of them) or should I scale back?  Technically, I guess I'm in "taper mode", but my head says I should scale back.  I just don't know how much.  I just want to be prepared and injury-free for the race.  Do I need to re-do the 20 miles?  I'm at a loss.  Thoughts?

A Retrospective

This year's theme is "Quantity over Quality". Nevertheless, here are my Running Goals for 2008 (my comments in italics and bold because Blogger wouldn't have it any other way):

• Lincoln Half Marathon. Run it and finish it. NO WALKING. - Done
  
• At least 3 runs per week. - Yeah, right.
  
• At least 1 day a week for cross training. - Define "cross training". Does running after an 18 month old count?
  
• Run in at least 5 races. - Lincoln State Farm 10 Mile Run, Lincoln Half, Boys Town Memorial Run, 8 on the 8th AND our high school's Cross Country 5K fundraiser, Des Moines Half.
  
• Run in at least 2 Fun Runs. - Not a one. Keep this goal for 2009.
  
• Des Moines Marathon. Contingent upon (HM goal) - Nope. A well-documented "didn't happen".
  
• Post to blog at least twice a week. - Passed with flying colors.
  
  I've got to say that, in the short amount of time that I've been blogging, it's been an absolute blast reading all the different types of blogs out there. It's nice to know there are people out there that have to balance all the same things that I do and can still manage to get their miles in. It's been inspirational and hilarious at the same time. I look forward to reading more in 2008. I wish everyone a healthy and Happy 2008!
  

So, now that I've been blogging for over a year, I'm a running blogger veteran? What does a year equal in blogging years? 5? 10? In another year are we going to be discussing me needing to go to "a running track outside of town?" Who knows? All that I know is that it was a fun year:

• I ran my first half.
• I trained for my first marathon. Something that shouldn't be overlooked.
• I signed up for my first marathon.
• I trained for my second marathon. Making sense so far?
• I got to meet people that I blog with. Most notably, a 12 miler without hydration. Ugh. Nevertheless, a fantastic run that inspired me to push myself even further and validated a lot of the craziness. Thanks, Tom.
• I started a podcast.
• I learned a valuable lesson about buying shoes: I will never buy them online. No matter if they are the same make and model.
• I got to read about a lot of kewl people from all over the world (thanks, Xenia for letting me qualify that. Unless, of course, Michigan is another country. It should be.) and their trials and tribulations when it comes to their running lives. Also, something that shouldn't be overlooked.
  
• I hope for great things in 2009 from yours truly. I don't know what they'll be. I'll start with finishing my first marathon and go from there. Maybe I'll post my 2009 goals after that.
  

Goodwill Toward Runners

Like many others, my posting here will be sporadic for the next few weeks.  Rest assured, though, that after the New Year, I'll be dwelling on the PFCRNRAM.  

To everyone out there, I'd just like to wish you all a Merry Christmasukahzaa.  That should cover just about everyone.  Normally, I'd leave it at that, but I'd like to say thanks to everyone that has stopped by this foolish guilty pleasure that I like to call my blog.  Your humor, encouragement, inspiration and snarkiness was not lost on me and I appreciate it more than you think.  

Special thanks also go out to:

• My family.  They put up with my training, obsessing, podcasting, and blogging.  Thanks for you encouragement and tolerance.
• Tom and Amy at Runners Lounge.  Why you let me start podcasting on your respected website is beyond me.  I'm very appreciative of the opportunity you've given me.
• To Jess and Marathon Dude Bill for nominating me in a Free Stuff Giveaway last month.  I never even said "thanks" even after I got the gift card.  What kind of a RBF am I?  Thanks again.
• To Vanilla, Nitmos and Amy for clogging up my Gmail account.  

I hope that all of you have a safe and happy holiday season.  I'll be at home today and tomorrow waiting for the UPSFedExUSPSDHL guys to arrive with all of your gifts.

Ankles? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Ankles!

The picture clearly shows that 2 of us are getting the job done while the other....well, who knows.  She has a legitimate excuse, but I won't go into it.  I just hope she keeps an open tab for Vanilla and I.   I didn't realize that Vanilla has a treadmill on the Starship Enterprise.  Good Lord.  Does Spock come by and hand you a Gatorade when you're on the 'mill?

My outdoor run wasn't really a run.  It was more of a steeplechase.  Want to have the time pass by when you're on a long run?  Run in an area you're not familiar with and throw in some snowdrifts and some unshoveled walks while you're at it!   Geez, the path that I took looks likes something Billy from Family Circus would travel after an all-night bender.

After about 11 miles, my ankles were pretty shredded.  No injury, but they had pretty much had it.  There was a noticeable difference when I hopped upon the Rubber Band of Doom.  I'm going to say I ran 18 miles* with an asterisk because of the conditions.  Oh, and my groin hurts too.  I'd throw in a heavy lifting joke, but that's just too easy.

This may be the last post before Thursday.  I hope to get a podcast in by Christmas Eve and I'm going to try to crank another out before the New Year.  It'll be raw**, but there'll be something there for ya.

Hope you all have a safe and happy week!

*I'm starting with the asterisk thing already.

**I apologize for the hack job on the last podcast.  That one was pretty rough.  I'm trying out new audio editing software and I think I'm still at the bottom of the learning curve.  I'll figure it out.  My mom tells me I'm smart.  Or is it special?

My List of Demands

It's probably not the most originalest thing you'll read, but here's what I want for Christmas. Please consult with other RBFs when you buy me these things so things don't get awkward. That way, I don't have to return anything:

• The right balance of insanity and courage for the PFCRNRM.
• To be healthy for the aforementioned.
• My entire route to be shoveled and de-iced. And maybe throw in a couple of folks standing outside handing me warm drinks as I go by.
• Shoes that make me feel like I'm walking on pillows stuffed with marshmallows while increasing my pace by about a minute.
• To get another family member hooked on running.
  
• For my blogging and/or podcasting to become so profitable I have to quit teaching the self-centered and apathetic.
  
• An iPod that can be intuitive and turn itself up or down and skip songs without me having to fumble for the controls.
• A puppy.
• A podcast where I don't have to edit anything. *cough!* *Amy!* Nitmos!*Vanilla!* *cough!*
  
• PRs for every race.
• A bitchin' Camaro.
• For 4:30am to not be so damn early.
• An issue of Runners World in my mailbox every day.
• Limo ride to and from every race so that I don't have to deal with parking and I can celebrate accordingly afterwards.
• A blog post without bullet points.
• 20+ comments on one ROATM post.
• A bike/running trail that runs east/west in my town.
• My own personal Starbucks.
• Free stuff and/or sponsors (ahem, Apple, Under Armour, Oakley! I'm still waiting!)
  
• Peace, hope, goodwill toward men and all that crap.
• A safe and happy 2009 for all of my friends and family.
• PRs for everyone.
  

Runners LoungeCast - Episode 6 - Be Funny...again

Pictured above is a typical audio waveform that you see when you edit audio. See the really thin lines on the left and right? That's what's called "dead air". We encountered some of that this episode. We were cookin' for awhile and then we got a little punchy. Things were said that can't be taken back and feelings were hurt. I feel bad for Jared from Subway. I really do.

It's still quality work. We even manage to help you get your fartlek on. Enjoy!

Episode 6 - Be Funny....again.

If you have questions/comments/ideas/concerns...email me at runningoffatthemind@gmail.com

Back on Track!

16 miles.  Done. 

I'm back on track!  It was a great run, too.  Full moon lit up the trail, saw 2 deer, a fox chasing something in and out of the woods, and about 3 or 4 running groups during part of it.

My route led me to a lake (yes, there are lakes in Nebraska).  It's a pretty popular spot for runners, cyclists, molesters, etc.  Fortunately, I only saw runners.  Come to think of it, maybe the fox was chasing a molester.  I digress.

The groups were just starting out on their run.  I'm sure of it.  They were bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and dressed a lot lighter than I was.  In my mind, they were sissies and I was OK with that.  

Other weekend notes and observations:

• During my run, I though a lot about ROATM and the podcast.  I don't know how I can keep up both my quality writing and my quality podcasting.  At some point, I'm going to have to make concessions.  
• I was about 5 minutes away from having our priest exorcise KidDoodle2.  I'm not kidding. We went up for communion and I gave serious consideration to just handing him my kid and having him say, "DEMONS OUT!"
• What happens when you schedule a podcast and no one shows up?  We'll find out.  No biggie.  I'll jerry-rig something.  If you have any ideas, email me or leave something in the comments. 
• The Countdown to Christmas clock we have in our yard was cool.  Now it's just a reminder of all the s**t that I have to do in 9 days, 15 hours, 16 minutes, and 10 seconds.
• Long run in Des Moines next weekend.  The highest temps forecasted?  10 degrees. Sweet.

Hope everyone has a good week.  

Free Time

Most would think that I spend my time during the week poring over running logs, doing research for the podcasts, analyzing my running form, etc. Nope. This is what I do:

28 blocks.

Ever since KidDoodle1 got these blocks, I've been trying to stack all of them, but to no avail.  I'd have taken a picture of KidDoodle2, but he had been trying to knock them down the entire time.  I put him and the dog in the crate until I took this picture.

16 miler tomorrow morning.  New route.  New attitude.  It will get done!

*She chose that outfit.  We let her get into grubbies after pre-school.  We're not bad parents.

RL Gift Exchange

OK, I'm down with this whole Runners Lounge Virtual White Elephant Gift Exchange.

To Topher because he gives/gets the coolest White Elephant gifts:

You can cover up his nuts while he gathers his!

To my loyal readers.  Who pick up as much as they put down:

A Sarcastic Magic 8 Ball. Are you freakin' kidding me?

Happy Holidays to one and all!

Runners LoungeCast - Episode 5 - Show Notes

Typepad hates me right now and I can't get to it from work.   

Here's the link to this week's podcast.

Ironically, I recorded this podcast after going 11 miles on the Motorized Rubber Band of Doom due to bad weather.  

This week's topic:  Running in Cold Weather

Oh, the irony!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the 'cast, email me at runningoffatthemind@gmail.com

Option "D"

Well, at least Vanilla ran:

I, on the other hand, chose the following option:

D) Just skip it all together.

You didn't know that Friday's quiz would have a hidden option, did you?  Well, neither did I.

I skipped it.  I don't have a good excuse.  Oh, I had plenty of them this weekend to justify me not getting it in, but in retrospect, I just wussed out*.  Here are my justifications:

• Saturday Morning:  I had a video shoot Friday night that went longer than expected and the Furnace Guy is coming at 8am.  I hate running on a big time crunch.  That leads to injury.  The rest of the day will be packed with Christmas hustling and bustling, so Sunday will be my day.
• Sunday Morning:  Who knew that 3rd big glass of wine Saturday night would have this type of effect on me?  No sleep and a big headache.  Perfect.  Well, maybe when the kids go down for a nap, I can sneak out.
• Sunday Afternoon:  The kids aren't napping.  I know!  I'll run 8 tonight on the Rubber Band of Boredom and 8 tomorrow morning outside!  Or....I can just get up at an unholy hour Monday morning and get at least 12 in.  
• Hmmm.....
• Sunday Night:  I set the alarm for 3:15am.  Read that again.  I didn't even know my alarm clock had a 3:15am.  This will be a great post:  "I'm Insane, but I Got the Long Run In."...or something to that effect.
• Sunday Overnight:  I wake up on the half hour looking at the clock.  I reset for 5:30am and resign myself to the fact that I just skipped a long run.

I don't know why I can't get over this mental hurdle.  I really don't.  The only thing that I can think of is that 16 miles will be the longest my 2 legs have ever carried me.  If you recall, I stopped short of 16 miles in my first attempt at a long run and, consequently, got injured.  Maybe, subconsciously, I won't allow myself to run that far.  Who the hell knows?

I thought I'd freak out or at least sulk.  More than anything, I'm pissed off and am more determined to finish this training schedule strong.  I'm recognizing this bout with laziness as a tipping point.  I can either feel sorry for myself and wimp out or I can conjure up some much-needed internal fortitude and get this MF done!

6 more weekends till the PFCRNR marathon.  Here's how the long run weekends are going to play out:

12/13 - 16 miles

12/20 - 18 miles

12/27 - 20 miles

1/3 - 12 miles

1/10 - 8 miles

1/18 - Marathon!

For those of you that have done this, does this look sane?

Happy running everyone!

*I'm fully retracting Thursday's post after this past weekend.

Interactiveness

Hey, thanks for all of the guys rushing to my defense from yesterday's post.  'preciate that.  One guy truly backed me up.  One effin' guy???  And his latest post was about a women's boutique named after him.  Bah.  I'm over it.

Moving on, I have to pick between the lesser of 2 evils for my long run (16 miles) this weekend. Let me give you the scenarios:

1. Saturday morning run.  The forecast for 5am is as follows:  23 degrees, 30% chance of snow, winds at 14mph.  The drawback to Saturday morning is that I've only had one day of rest and I like to get 2 before the long runs.
2. Sunday morning run.  Forecast:  16 degrees, 10% chance of snow, winds at 6mph.  The drawback:  We've been invited to party Saturday night where only heavy appetizers and wine will be served. Not quite the fuel I'd need for a long run the next morning.

And, in order to make this post even more exciting, I'll let ya vote on it:  

Man Time*

*Note - For too long, I've tolerated numerous references to "the girls" and "monthly visitors" in many blogs.  I've been quiet about it, but I really think it's time to "man up" the running blogosphere.

"Reverend, you've got balls as big as church bells."

-Dabney Coleman in Dragnet

I'm a freakin' stud.  I mean, I am a man's man to the nth degree.  I watch football, I drink beer, and I know who to call to get my oil changed.  Yesterday, however, my manhood was questioned for, quite possibly the very last time in my existence.

During an open period, some of my students were working on their projects while I was lamenting about getting a morning run in the next day.  I like to work my running schedule into general conversation, so I thought that it was a perfect time to do that and cement my already well-established tough guy image.  So, I told them that I'd just have to run in the morning....temperatures be damned.  I'm pretty sure words like "tough guy"  "hero" and "best teacher of all time" came up.

"Well I'm upper-upper class high society

God's gift to ballroom notoriety

And I always fill my ballroom

The event is never small

The social pages say I've got

The biggest balls of all"

-AC/DC

4:20am stared me in the face.  I stared back.  4:20 blinked first.  Why?  Because even the clock knew it couldn't challenge my steely determination.  Then, my thermometer greeted me with 11 degrees.  "11?  Pffft...that's still double digits!"  I chortled.  "I may actually have to put on a base layer."

After my usual morning routine - which includes throwing down some beef jerky, drinking 6 raw eggs and a pot of coffee - I headed outside.  

"Mmmmmm"

-Jenna Jameson

Remember the scene from Empire Strikes Back when Han Solo slits open the Tan Tan to keep Luke warm?  Well, me neither!  Why?  Because real men watch John Wayne and Dirty Harry movies.  None of that sissy space crap!  My wussy friends told me about the scene!  Anyhow, it was that cold.

The air was crisp that day, my friends.  A quick 5 miler was on the agenda.  The grass was hard and crunchy due to the hard frost.  Cars wouldn't start.  Bacteria wasn't surviving.  Alcohol froze.  I was afraid that my Garmin wouldn't function, but due to my manly body heat, it ticked away like the man-gadget that it is.

After the run, I celebrated my victory by stretching outside, essentially telling Mother Nature that she is my beeeyatch!

I did this for the kids.  The kids that challenged my tenacity, my resolution, and every other synonym for "manhood".

P.S. - I'm fairly confident I'm going to get fired for keyword searches of "dragnet" "balls" and "AC/DC".

*Alternate title - Letting It All Hang Out

Runners LoungeCast - Episode 4 - Show Notes

It was our first attempt at a (hopefully) recurring segment named "Calling All Runners" - which was an "open call" for anyone to join the discussion. Meaning, you could either call in or hang out in the chat room and discuss what we're talking about.  It was kinda cool, but it needs a little work.  I was trying to carry on a conversation while typing in the chat room.  I don't know how my students do it.  They can text, be on facebook, listen on their iPod and do homework all at the same time.  It's mind boggling.

Remember, feel free to email me, Tom or Amy with upcoming ideas for the podcasts.  We're always looking for good ideas!

Title: "Running Through the Holidays."

In this segment, we discuss how runners keep running on their schedule during the holidays.

Featuring:

Mike from The Pursuit of Running

Tom and Amy from Runners Lounge

Me from here

Other Notes/Links:

TalkShoe

Lamest Blogs

Top 11 Lamest Blogs

Not surprisingly, ROATM is not on the list.  There were some oversights, though.  I'll just leave it at that.

Weekend Odds and Ends

Call me a wuss. Call me insane. Call me a sadist....

...but I did my long run on the treadmill this weekend. I had every intention of running on Saturday morning, but Friday's festivities made it a longer night than originally planned. Sunday morning rolled around and I had to make a decision:

A) run in 20+mph winds with 3 types of precipitation (uphill both ways, blah blah blah)

or

B) run on the treadmill and watch a certain football game.

I opted for B.

I could only manage 11 miles. It just became too damn monotonous for me. I had podcasts, audio books, and the game, but it just wasn't enough. I tried to tell myself that this was mental training for the PFCRNRAZ marathon. If that's the case, I'm screwed. I justified a mere 11 miles by telling myself that I'm going to flip-flop weeks. Next Saturday was supposed to be a 12 mile run while this past weekend was supposed to be 16 miler. So, there you go.

The kicker (Get it? Kicker?) is that I have no proof of my suffering. I forgot to take a picture of my miles before I turned off the 'mill. What's worse is that I could've cleaned up on our Garmin Training Challenge. Vanilla is out due to injury and SisterDoodle was busy running across the Minneapolis airport to catch a flight. So, Week 5 is a push. DAMNIT!!!!

Whilst on the Motorized Rubber Band of Doom, I started thinking about the PFCRNRAZ marathon:

• iPod or no iPod? I've never run a race with my iPod. In my opinion, there's just too much going on around me to block out with music and/or podcasts. That being said, I've never run 4+ hours without an iPod. The flip side of that is there will be a band every mile of the race. It's just a guess, but that must be where the "Rock 'n Roll" portion of the marathon comes into play.
• Scope Out the Course. I think I may have SisterDoodle drive the course for me. I'm familiar with the route, but I think it would calm me down a bit if I saw what was ahead of me.....or it might have the opposite effect. Fortunately, my sister says I have a more scenic route than the half marathon.
• The Running Expo. I've never been to one and it's required that I go to pick up my stuff. If I have to go, I have to go.
• The Podcast. There's an opportunity for me to turn this into an episode for the LoungeCast, right?

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! And last, but certainly not least, a BIG congrats to Xenia for completing her first marathon!