For the first time since August 12, 2013, I ran outside. I wasn't overly nervous, but the landmarks highlighting the pre- and post-accident made me aware. Of course, it was all on the road before.
I recently purchased a pair of Luna sandals - Mono. I read the book, Born to Run, years ago, and have re-read it many times since. I wasn't pursuaded into running in sandals until the last go-around. So when the sandal company had a sale, I bought my first pair.
The reason I mention purchasing Luna sandals is not to undermine the real value of running. Rather, it is to highlight the ability of enjoying the experience of running. I have been injured every single year since I re-started running. Every injury has been in shoes. This last one, the worst of all...a broken 2nd metatarsal bone in my foot, happened while wearing Vibrams, See Yas. I don't think it was the Vibrams that caused the injury. I do think my inability to run correctly ALL THE TIME in them played a part.
So what is the necessary correction? Find a logical pairing of shoes and terrain, and include the time / access variables. Today, I had the time.
Over my lunch break while working from home, I set off in my Monos. I ducked through the neighbors side-yard, which backs up to acres and acres of farm land, recently plowed to the ground. It was soft from the rain and spikey from the shorn winter wheat or corn...I'm not a farmer, so to be sure is just a guess. I reviewed the potential route on Google Maps, weaving in and out around the tree line, across the road, over the stream and ditches, through the subdivision, and back through more acres of plowed farm land.
To say it was a challenge assumes a negative slant. It was a positive, adventurous run. Had I not taken it, I would have always wondered what it was like, and always assumed it would be the perfect forum for all my future running. As it turns out, running in soft, very muddy, and private farm land is not as productive as I would like. The Monos became laden with mud on the bottoms, but probably much less than if I had been wearing Vibrams or shoes. The laces (ATS) haven't been fine-tuned yet, so I stopped multiple times to adjust. After 4.5 miles, I came to a part of the farm where the subdivision was expanding. It was newly plowed mud...thick, wet, and uninviting.
In order to maintain the positive experience of running, running in Lunas, and finally being outside, I cut across a large mud field and got back onto the road. The subdivision road winded through to the main artery, and ultimatly back onto Pryor Road, where I would run all the way back to my own subdivison.
It was a glorious run. I am grateful to have a pair of sandals that felt SO GREAT on my feet. I am grateful to be able to run. I am grateful to have the time to run. I am confused as to what kind of running I am becoming.
Overall, I am quite happy with my Luna Monos...I am going to continue running in them. However, I might be back on the road full-time...maybe that is where I belong.
Peace,
M
Monday, December 16, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
3 Miles at a Time
Three miles at a time. On the treadmill. Slowly.
An old instict would be start running as far as I can, right back into the old routine. Maybe I am smarter now. Maybe I am fatter and can't run as far. Either way, I am running slowly, low mileage each week. As the weeks progress, I will add miles, until I can get into a program for a spring trail marathon.
Until then, I am on the treadmill, 3 days a week. 3 miles at a time. Hey, I ride the bike and workout at the gym, so don't judge.
The question is not how far. But do you possess the constitution and depth of faith to go as far as necessary?
Iah.
M
An old instict would be start running as far as I can, right back into the old routine. Maybe I am smarter now. Maybe I am fatter and can't run as far. Either way, I am running slowly, low mileage each week. As the weeks progress, I will add miles, until I can get into a program for a spring trail marathon.
Until then, I am on the treadmill, 3 days a week. 3 miles at a time. Hey, I ride the bike and workout at the gym, so don't judge.
The question is not how far. But do you possess the constitution and depth of faith to go as far as necessary?
Iah.
M
Friday, October 25, 2013
Since You've Been Gone...
It's been a long time, since you've been gone. Lyrics from an artist I don't know and probably don't even like...for some reason they are in my head.
In August (8/12 to be exact), I broke my foot. It came suddenly, quickly, and painfully. Mile 5, I felt great. Mile 6, my foot ached a bit. Mile 7, I stopped. Mile 7.01, two steps later, an audible "pop". 30 minutes later, after nearly defecating myself, I limped inside my house and erased the past several months of hard work.
Enough of the boring details...at least for now. I have been cross-training on the bike and in the pool. Something about October and the Ironman World Championships always does that to me. Do triathlon. Do triathlon. Then I get healthy, and back to running. Well, I started running this week...slowly, but not painfully.
I will do better about keeping a log. I will do better with writing well, and with a more artistic approach. This entry is to get me back into the car. The key is turned. Now, where is the damn map.
M
In August (8/12 to be exact), I broke my foot. It came suddenly, quickly, and painfully. Mile 5, I felt great. Mile 6, my foot ached a bit. Mile 7, I stopped. Mile 7.01, two steps later, an audible "pop". 30 minutes later, after nearly defecating myself, I limped inside my house and erased the past several months of hard work.
Enough of the boring details...at least for now. I have been cross-training on the bike and in the pool. Something about October and the Ironman World Championships always does that to me. Do triathlon. Do triathlon. Then I get healthy, and back to running. Well, I started running this week...slowly, but not painfully.
I will do better about keeping a log. I will do better with writing well, and with a more artistic approach. This entry is to get me back into the car. The key is turned. Now, where is the damn map.
M
Friday, March 22, 2013
March Showers (Snow and Otherwise)
A running purist runs to run...
Do it for the medals, do it for the pesonal best times, do it for the t-shirts, or do it for whatever social / interpersonal reasons you have, but when you run, do it for the foundational reason that it opens your body and soul. And when you are open, the stress, frustration, and injury pours out of you, and is replaced by calm, peace, and appreciation. This is the method for running purity.
We are human beings, so we are littered and hampered by human desires. But when I run, I constantly focus on why I am running. It is a gift from God, and I am grateful for the gift. I am blessed to be able to run, and I intend to celebrate that gift as often as possible. So when I put one foot in front of the other, I pour out the bad...which can take a few miles sometimes...and take in the good. And when I am finished with my run, I am rejuvinated with a more pure body and soul. I include "soul" instead of "mind" because it is a religious experience for me. I pray before, during, and after a run. And through prayer, it centralizes the importance of peace and humility. And these elements are the key ingredients to being a successful runner.
I continue to be hampered by a stinging case of plantar fasciitis in my little toe, which precludes me from wearing shoes. Even to wear shoes for walking hurts. So, I am either barefoot, or in Vibram Five Fingers. I am not trying to convert fellow runners to VFFs, nor am I a die-hard natural runner, so they say. The simple fact is, this is the only way I can run right now.
I ran the Lucky 13.1 half-marathon at the beginning of March this year. I entered it on a whim after our spring break trip was cancelled. Wearing a pair of VFFs SeeYas LS, I took to a country road course, with absolutely ZERO spectators, in cold and windy conditions. Twelve miles was the longest previous run in my Vibrams, and my fitness was in line with the HM, so it was a safe gamble. The race went well, resulting in a 1:36 finish, 1.5 minutes faster than any previous HM finish, and just over a minute faster than any 13.1 split in my previous 2 marathons.
After a week off of running now (not because of the race, but due to severe strep throat), I am ready to figure out what kind of runner I want to be. Regardless of the conclusion at which I will arrive, I will remain a running purist.
M
Do it for the medals, do it for the pesonal best times, do it for the t-shirts, or do it for whatever social / interpersonal reasons you have, but when you run, do it for the foundational reason that it opens your body and soul. And when you are open, the stress, frustration, and injury pours out of you, and is replaced by calm, peace, and appreciation. This is the method for running purity.
We are human beings, so we are littered and hampered by human desires. But when I run, I constantly focus on why I am running. It is a gift from God, and I am grateful for the gift. I am blessed to be able to run, and I intend to celebrate that gift as often as possible. So when I put one foot in front of the other, I pour out the bad...which can take a few miles sometimes...and take in the good. And when I am finished with my run, I am rejuvinated with a more pure body and soul. I include "soul" instead of "mind" because it is a religious experience for me. I pray before, during, and after a run. And through prayer, it centralizes the importance of peace and humility. And these elements are the key ingredients to being a successful runner.
I continue to be hampered by a stinging case of plantar fasciitis in my little toe, which precludes me from wearing shoes. Even to wear shoes for walking hurts. So, I am either barefoot, or in Vibram Five Fingers. I am not trying to convert fellow runners to VFFs, nor am I a die-hard natural runner, so they say. The simple fact is, this is the only way I can run right now.
I ran the Lucky 13.1 half-marathon at the beginning of March this year. I entered it on a whim after our spring break trip was cancelled. Wearing a pair of VFFs SeeYas LS, I took to a country road course, with absolutely ZERO spectators, in cold and windy conditions. Twelve miles was the longest previous run in my Vibrams, and my fitness was in line with the HM, so it was a safe gamble. The race went well, resulting in a 1:36 finish, 1.5 minutes faster than any previous HM finish, and just over a minute faster than any 13.1 split in my previous 2 marathons.
After a week off of running now (not because of the race, but due to severe strep throat), I am ready to figure out what kind of runner I want to be. Regardless of the conclusion at which I will arrive, I will remain a running purist.
M
Monday, February 25, 2013
February Running
I am continuing to run solely in Vibram Five Fingers, and so far, it has been great. I am using the SeeYas LS for all my running, on the road and treadmill. For the most part, there is now no noticeable difference between VFFs and my Brooks PureDrifts, likely due to the quick acclimation period and my already transitioned foot strike.
The only difference (slight) I notice, and this might not be due to the shoes at all, is after several miles (+9), my feet are a bit sore. I can't remember if this is how my feet feel in shoes, so maybe it is just ME. I think once I am able to get on the road again, after all this snow melts, the mental aspect of running will be more positive, and the transition will be complete.
It is not that I do not enjoy running on the treadmill...it is just boring. But, it is still running!
January - 187 miles
February - 148 miles (all in VFFs)
M
The only difference (slight) I notice, and this might not be due to the shoes at all, is after several miles (+9), my feet are a bit sore. I can't remember if this is how my feet feel in shoes, so maybe it is just ME. I think once I am able to get on the road again, after all this snow melts, the mental aspect of running will be more positive, and the transition will be complete.
It is not that I do not enjoy running on the treadmill...it is just boring. But, it is still running!
January - 187 miles
February - 148 miles (all in VFFs)
M
Monday, February 11, 2013
February 3 - 9: Running in Vibrams
I have a pain, and it won't go away. I tried ignoring it. I tried cutting it out. I even taped it with duct tape. So, if the top 3 ways to live a healthy life, as applied to an injury, don't work, you have to get creative.
I bought a pair of Vibrams (Bikilia) a few years ago. I loved them. Alas, they were really a little too small. So, I bought a pair of KomodoSport LS. They fit just right. I wore them around, but never to run in...until now.
The pain behind and in my little toe is too much to bear when I wear running shoes. I presume it is because I am pronating on the outside of my foot, putting pressure on either a fracture (unlikely) or a tweaked nerve. This is of course, based on my expert, non-medical opinion. The only way I can run pain-free, is barefoot, or in Vibrams. And because I cannot run fast enough barefoot, or really like the idea of running barefoot, I choose the Vibrams.
Inexplicably, I am drawn to running in these "shoes". There is just something about it, like when I first saw my wife and knew immediately we would get married. Sometimes, you just know. I am hoping I am right about this as well.
Ok, enough with the drama.
Week One: 33.4 miles
Most importantly, I am asking St. Jude for help. It is such a selfish thing for which help should be asked, but I believe more in the power of prayer than medical logic. About this, I am 100% certain.
Week Two started today. 5 miles on the treadmill.
M
I bought a pair of Vibrams (Bikilia) a few years ago. I loved them. Alas, they were really a little too small. So, I bought a pair of KomodoSport LS. They fit just right. I wore them around, but never to run in...until now.
The pain behind and in my little toe is too much to bear when I wear running shoes. I presume it is because I am pronating on the outside of my foot, putting pressure on either a fracture (unlikely) or a tweaked nerve. This is of course, based on my expert, non-medical opinion. The only way I can run pain-free, is barefoot, or in Vibrams. And because I cannot run fast enough barefoot, or really like the idea of running barefoot, I choose the Vibrams.
Inexplicably, I am drawn to running in these "shoes". There is just something about it, like when I first saw my wife and knew immediately we would get married. Sometimes, you just know. I am hoping I am right about this as well.
Ok, enough with the drama.
Week One: 33.4 miles
- Sunday - 2.6 miles (road)
- Monday - 0 miles
- Tuesday - 6 miles (treadmill)
- Wednesday - 6.5 (road)
- Thursday - 8 miles (treadmill)
- Friday - 7.2 miles (road)
- Saturday - 3.1 miles (road)
Most importantly, I am asking St. Jude for help. It is such a selfish thing for which help should be asked, but I believe more in the power of prayer than medical logic. About this, I am 100% certain.
Week Two started today. 5 miles on the treadmill.
M
Sweetheart Shuffle 5k - Race Report
The Sweetheart Shuffle 5k is the first of six events in the Healthy Holiday Fun Run Series, held on February 9, 2013 at the Bass Pro Shops in Independence, MO. This event was low-key from the standpoint the field was small, but on display were people running for best times, meeting (and some exceeding) personal goals, conquering fears and pain, and finding a new reason to run. These are the reasons the Sweetheart Shuffle was a large-scale event.
Running is a selfish hobby. I wake up at 4 AM, run up to 13 miles, wake up the dog coming back into the house, which in turn wakes up everyone else. I drap wet clothes in the closet, and significantly add to the laundry that needs to be done everyday. I run over lunch, which compounds the laudry even more. The cost for races, shoes, socks, gear...it is all expensive. The time I am gone for races (all local, of course) is still time I am away from my family, leaving my wife to manage the kids on her day off from being a stay-at-home mom. It is selfish, yet I do it anyway.
So why run? It is an evolving reason, but one that has culminated into a simple one...it is a gift, one for which I am grateful. And I intend to celebrate it everyday. So I run. Ask me how I feel at the end of a race, and you will get the same answer: "Blessed...that's how I feel."
This year is a drastic change for me. My oldest daughter, Madilyn, is running with me. I proposed running to her as an alternative sport to soccer or softball...something she and I could do together. She was into it. So, the Sweetheart Shuffle was our first race in our yearlong sport. This is how it went:
We arrived at the Bass Pro Shop around 7:15 in the morning. After a quick stop at the porta-john, we waited in the car until 5 minutes before the start of the race. This is a HUGE benefit to these races...easy access!
Running is a selfish hobby. I wake up at 4 AM, run up to 13 miles, wake up the dog coming back into the house, which in turn wakes up everyone else. I drap wet clothes in the closet, and significantly add to the laundry that needs to be done everyday. I run over lunch, which compounds the laudry even more. The cost for races, shoes, socks, gear...it is all expensive. The time I am gone for races (all local, of course) is still time I am away from my family, leaving my wife to manage the kids on her day off from being a stay-at-home mom. It is selfish, yet I do it anyway.
So why run? It is an evolving reason, but one that has culminated into a simple one...it is a gift, one for which I am grateful. And I intend to celebrate it everyday. So I run. Ask me how I feel at the end of a race, and you will get the same answer: "Blessed...that's how I feel."
This year is a drastic change for me. My oldest daughter, Madilyn, is running with me. I proposed running to her as an alternative sport to soccer or softball...something she and I could do together. She was into it. So, the Sweetheart Shuffle was our first race in our yearlong sport. This is how it went:
We arrived at the Bass Pro Shop around 7:15 in the morning. After a quick stop at the porta-john, we waited in the car until 5 minutes before the start of the race. This is a HUGE benefit to these races...easy access!
I gave Maddi three goals: never walk, walk at the aid station, or walk one time per mile. Even though running is for fun, a race is a lesson in and of itself. And I am the coach. We started slowly, easing through the crowd in front of us, and maintained a nice, easy pace. Maddi was able to talk to me, which tells me how tired she actually is. Past the first mile, she wanted to walk...I told her we could after we crossed the next street light, but only until the next subsequent cone. My belief is she has no idea how far or much should she push herself, so I need to judge for her. Soon, she will learn on her own.
Running isn't easy. It should hurt..a little. It should cause doubt, and subsequently reaffirm the belief that you can accomplish anything in your heart. We took a few short walks throughout the course, always aware we would be passed by others pushing just a little harder. Towards the end, when the finish line came into view about 600 meters away, Maddi pushed through. I pointed to runners we needed to pass. She complied. And at the end, we finished our first race as a pair of runners, as father and daughter, as friends.
When I run a marathon, it is for fun, but I run hard. It is self-involved, and I want to do my very best. Running alone, I could have run a 19 min 5k. But on this day, my very best was not about time or placement. My very best was running with Maddi. And it was wonderful.
The Sweetheart Shuffle is the first of six races we are planning to do this year. The other five, well, those are the remaining races in the Healthy Holiday Fun Run Series. Run baby run. You've got to love it!
M
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A New Runner in Town
"Maddi, do you want to spend your time playing soccer, where I can no longer coach you, away from home, or do you want to run...with me?"
Our daughters are growing up, and athletics, although not mandatory, are something we very much encourage. Our youngest daughter is playing softball this year. And with it comes 2x practice plus games. Both girls take piano (1x) and religious class (1x). As Madilyn debated on what sport she wanted to do this year, it sent her mom and I into a bit of a panic. No matter what she picked, it would take our family away from each other during the week and even the weekend. Because family time is important, we came up with a solution.
Running!
Maddi is a naturally built runner. Coupled with the fact I have lost faith in team sports over the years (coming from a dedicated baseball background), and based on the premise of wanting my girls to participate in sports that they can continue with throughout their life. Softball...maybe. But it is what is best for Abbi. As for Maddi, running is a viable option.
So, she agreed to run this year. She and I will run 4 days a week, with planned 5k races throughout the year. SO, we have two races planned...2/9 and 3/23. I am pumped! We bought some real running shoes, and we have a schedule.
More to come!!!
M
Our daughters are growing up, and athletics, although not mandatory, are something we very much encourage. Our youngest daughter is playing softball this year. And with it comes 2x practice plus games. Both girls take piano (1x) and religious class (1x). As Madilyn debated on what sport she wanted to do this year, it sent her mom and I into a bit of a panic. No matter what she picked, it would take our family away from each other during the week and even the weekend. Because family time is important, we came up with a solution.
Running!
Maddi is a naturally built runner. Coupled with the fact I have lost faith in team sports over the years (coming from a dedicated baseball background), and based on the premise of wanting my girls to participate in sports that they can continue with throughout their life. Softball...maybe. But it is what is best for Abbi. As for Maddi, running is a viable option.
So, she agreed to run this year. She and I will run 4 days a week, with planned 5k races throughout the year. SO, we have two races planned...2/9 and 3/23. I am pumped! We bought some real running shoes, and we have a schedule.
More to come!!!
M
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Purpose of the Treadmill
Is it the miles in my running log, or is it the reason I run each run that is important? It is probably both.
During the winter build-up and foundational training season, I find myself being a wimp. I hate the cold...it hurts me, so I succumb to running on the treadmill for some of my sessions. Are these junk miles? Maybe. Do they count the same as running outside? Not likely. BUT, they have a purpose.
Running on the treadmill does at least one thing very important to my base training: foot turnover and foot strike.
Foot turnover is cadence / speed of the foot striking in the ground in a specific amount of time. The faster the foot turnover, the more efficient the runner can be. If over a mile, the foot strikes the ground more, the faster the runner is propelled forward. Seems simple, but it is not. Foot turnover forces efficiency and better form, which leads to increased endurance. Increased endurance is paramount to strength, and strength increases performance levels.
The second part of the equation is foot strike. When the legs turn over at a faster rate, if the runner strikes the ground with the foot under the hip, the calf and hamstrings load like coiled springs, bouncing the leg off the ground with greater power, and naturally moving the legs forward, leading with the knee. A good example is found here: http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2013/01/06/video-the-principles-natural-running/
Why is this important? A runner who maximizes efficiency (regardless of the shoes they wear), they increase longevity...in terms of endurance and health. Using a treadmill, while not nearly as beneficial as running outside, is a great training mechanism to focus on how fast your legs are turning over and where / how your foot is striking the ground. And for the geeks, you can easily set up a camcorder to video how you are running, for analysis and modification.
Running fast is not about getting the legs moving as fast as possible. Well, it is, but it MUST BE DONE in a certain way, or suffer through injury and loss of efficiency. So while I care very much about how many miles I run in a week, I care just as much as how I run those miles. After a few sessions on the treadmill during the freezing cold mornings, when I run outside, my body instinctively mimics how I was running inside. The result is I run faster, easier, and with less effort.
This is call foundational building.
Another benefit of staring at the wall for hours is emotional endurance...over the course of a marathon or ultra distance, the mind loses focus. On a treadmill, you are exercise your mind and your legs. Both are absolutely necessary to a positive increase in performance and enjoyment of running.
In the end, for me anyway, it is not about how fast I run. It is all about the joy of running. And I find more joy when I can run more. To run more, I need to run farther. To run farther, I need to be stronger. To be stronger, I need to run more efficiently. To run more efficiently, I need to stay healthy. To do all these things, I need to maximize the time on the treadmill.
M
During the winter build-up and foundational training season, I find myself being a wimp. I hate the cold...it hurts me, so I succumb to running on the treadmill for some of my sessions. Are these junk miles? Maybe. Do they count the same as running outside? Not likely. BUT, they have a purpose.
Running on the treadmill does at least one thing very important to my base training: foot turnover and foot strike.
Foot turnover is cadence / speed of the foot striking in the ground in a specific amount of time. The faster the foot turnover, the more efficient the runner can be. If over a mile, the foot strikes the ground more, the faster the runner is propelled forward. Seems simple, but it is not. Foot turnover forces efficiency and better form, which leads to increased endurance. Increased endurance is paramount to strength, and strength increases performance levels.
The second part of the equation is foot strike. When the legs turn over at a faster rate, if the runner strikes the ground with the foot under the hip, the calf and hamstrings load like coiled springs, bouncing the leg off the ground with greater power, and naturally moving the legs forward, leading with the knee. A good example is found here: http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2013/01/06/video-the-principles-natural-running/
Why is this important? A runner who maximizes efficiency (regardless of the shoes they wear), they increase longevity...in terms of endurance and health. Using a treadmill, while not nearly as beneficial as running outside, is a great training mechanism to focus on how fast your legs are turning over and where / how your foot is striking the ground. And for the geeks, you can easily set up a camcorder to video how you are running, for analysis and modification.
Running fast is not about getting the legs moving as fast as possible. Well, it is, but it MUST BE DONE in a certain way, or suffer through injury and loss of efficiency. So while I care very much about how many miles I run in a week, I care just as much as how I run those miles. After a few sessions on the treadmill during the freezing cold mornings, when I run outside, my body instinctively mimics how I was running inside. The result is I run faster, easier, and with less effort.
This is call foundational building.
Another benefit of staring at the wall for hours is emotional endurance...over the course of a marathon or ultra distance, the mind loses focus. On a treadmill, you are exercise your mind and your legs. Both are absolutely necessary to a positive increase in performance and enjoyment of running.
In the end, for me anyway, it is not about how fast I run. It is all about the joy of running. And I find more joy when I can run more. To run more, I need to run farther. To run farther, I need to be stronger. To be stronger, I need to run more efficiently. To run more efficiently, I need to stay healthy. To do all these things, I need to maximize the time on the treadmill.
M
Thursday, January 3, 2013
2013 Plans
With the advent of a new year, comes a new set of obsessions, or a subset of obsessions channeled through the same obsession of running. Following a fantastic climax in 2012 with the Kansas City Marathon (3:18, PR), where coming off an Achilles injury seemed to derail the entire train, I am renewed physically and emotionally.
My original goal, established during my 2012 recovery, was to focus on the shorter, triathlon races...Olympic distance. This would mean less time running, more time bicycling and swimming, and less chance for injury. However, I am a runner, and no amount of time spent watching the 2010 Hawaii Ironman over and over again will change that disposition. I am a runner.
After careful consideration, I have nearly finalized 2013.
My objective this year is two-fold: don't spend any more money than necessary on a race; race only the events I REALLY want to accomplish. Given these objectives, I shouldn't have signed up for HH, but plans change. It's a great race, and might be a nice departure coming off my first ultra (Brew to Brew).
Given the freezing conditions, I am on the treadmill some, running on an indoor track (200 meters) at work, and man-ing up for some outdoor runs. I really hate the cold, couple with never bringing music or a watch, this might be more of a mental excercise than anything else.
I list the Hawk 100 in September as tentative...if Brew to Brew goes well, then I am definitely signing up. If it is awful, then I might sign up. Either way, Brew to Brew is my primary race this year. I am beginning to become emotionally bound to this goal, and that is the key to my success.
M
My original goal, established during my 2012 recovery, was to focus on the shorter, triathlon races...Olympic distance. This would mean less time running, more time bicycling and swimming, and less chance for injury. However, I am a runner, and no amount of time spent watching the 2010 Hawaii Ironman over and over again will change that disposition. I am a runner.
After careful consideration, I have nearly finalized 2013.
- February - Sweetheart Shuffle 10k
- April - Brew to Brew solo (44.4 miles, road)
- June - Hospital Hill Half Marathon
- September - Hawk 100 (tentative)
- October - Kansas City Marathon
My objective this year is two-fold: don't spend any more money than necessary on a race; race only the events I REALLY want to accomplish. Given these objectives, I shouldn't have signed up for HH, but plans change. It's a great race, and might be a nice departure coming off my first ultra (Brew to Brew).
Given the freezing conditions, I am on the treadmill some, running on an indoor track (200 meters) at work, and man-ing up for some outdoor runs. I really hate the cold, couple with never bringing music or a watch, this might be more of a mental excercise than anything else.
I list the Hawk 100 in September as tentative...if Brew to Brew goes well, then I am definitely signing up. If it is awful, then I might sign up. Either way, Brew to Brew is my primary race this year. I am beginning to become emotionally bound to this goal, and that is the key to my success.
M
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)