Returning from an injury is tough. No surprise there! I've found that it is not so much the physical return that is hard, it is more of the mental. If you are cross training effectively, you are certainly able to maintain a fitness level. So, when you get back out there, you feel as if you can go forever, and want to!
I was allowed to run yesterday for the first time this year. A humbling experience, considering that last year I had already run 25 times. It was a blissful five minutes of exercise. Free of the pool and the shackles of the exercise bike, I was able to loop my block approximately 2.5 times without pain. It was awesome to feel the wind in my hair and the ground under (healed) foot. Even better, no pain. Now, I know this feeling will not last. There is usually a bit of residual soreness/pain that occurs in the area of a healed stress fracture. I've got my ice packs to take care of that. I don't care because I'm running again.
It was a struggle to stop at the 5 minute mark. I felt great and wanted to head back on my trails and explore what I've missed in the last month. I wanted to race through the woods and hurdle fallen trees. But I didn't. I don't want to get injured again, so I will do my best to rein it in and be smart. As with most distance runners, I'm great at knowing what I should do, but terrible at executing it. This time, I'm going to be good. I'm going to take my time in building, both in duration and intensity. I'm going to do all the little things: stretching, icing and strength work. I'll be stronger and I'll take recovery days. I'll listen to my body. I'll make hard days hard and easy days easy.
I'm sure I've made and ignored these promises to myself before. I'll probably make and ignore them again. However, if one day soon I am out doing something I shouldn't, if I remember this post and it slows me, even for a couple of minutes, then it is worth it. At least I've written it out for others to hold me accountable.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Decisions Decisions
Every year around this time I get overly confident in my athletic abilities. Perhaps it is a birthday-season crisis, perhaps it is the new year. Whatever it is, I begin thinking about competing again.
It is not as if I don't run, because I do. Those of you that have read this blog know that I actually ran every day last year. It is not like I don't enter races...I do that too. Heck, I even managed a win in a local 5k last year. I'm talking about training and competing with a singular focus on running fast at one event. For some reason, I get this feeling that I can still run fast, even though I ended my official competitive career almost a decade ago. In the time since my last step "in anger", I've built a nice little life around running. Working and coaching in the running industry has given me a bit of an outlet that I've used to fill my competitive urges. But I always wonder if I could actually return to a level that I consider "fast".
The decision to actually be competitive again is only one of the issues. The other is, what distance do I want to run? In my job, I am constantly asked how many marathons I have run. It is as if people don't realize that there are other races out there in which to compete. I've coached tons of marathoners, and long runs in training have been as much as 24 miles, but I've never raced the actual distance. So, in my head, I have put pressure on myself to think I should run a marathon. The half-marathon seems like a nice distance...it is certainly more popular now than ever. However, I always harken back to my first love, the track. I am getting older and have been out of the game for an eternity in track years. At 35, I'm well beyond the age range of good 800 meter runners. That is left to the younger folks. Am I too late to get back to the track for the 1500? 5k? 10k? Bernard Lagat is my age and still runs great 15s, and will make the move to the 5k this year. I know I'm not Bernard Lagat; never have been and never even pretended to be at or near that level. But can I be competitive in track races again? Can I beat kids that are 10+ years younger than I? Mentally I feel like I can, but physically, is it possible? I know from experience that I am not that talented. Every step I've run on the track has been through years of hard work. Could I find that magic again?
So, I'm back to the original question. One, do I attempt to run competitively again? Two, do I focus on longer distances or try to get back on the track. Once again, I am confounded. Ugh. Decisions, decisions...
It is not as if I don't run, because I do. Those of you that have read this blog know that I actually ran every day last year. It is not like I don't enter races...I do that too. Heck, I even managed a win in a local 5k last year. I'm talking about training and competing with a singular focus on running fast at one event. For some reason, I get this feeling that I can still run fast, even though I ended my official competitive career almost a decade ago. In the time since my last step "in anger", I've built a nice little life around running. Working and coaching in the running industry has given me a bit of an outlet that I've used to fill my competitive urges. But I always wonder if I could actually return to a level that I consider "fast".
The decision to actually be competitive again is only one of the issues. The other is, what distance do I want to run? In my job, I am constantly asked how many marathons I have run. It is as if people don't realize that there are other races out there in which to compete. I've coached tons of marathoners, and long runs in training have been as much as 24 miles, but I've never raced the actual distance. So, in my head, I have put pressure on myself to think I should run a marathon. The half-marathon seems like a nice distance...it is certainly more popular now than ever. However, I always harken back to my first love, the track. I am getting older and have been out of the game for an eternity in track years. At 35, I'm well beyond the age range of good 800 meter runners. That is left to the younger folks. Am I too late to get back to the track for the 1500? 5k? 10k? Bernard Lagat is my age and still runs great 15s, and will make the move to the 5k this year. I know I'm not Bernard Lagat; never have been and never even pretended to be at or near that level. But can I be competitive in track races again? Can I beat kids that are 10+ years younger than I? Mentally I feel like I can, but physically, is it possible? I know from experience that I am not that talented. Every step I've run on the track has been through years of hard work. Could I find that magic again?
So, I'm back to the original question. One, do I attempt to run competitively again? Two, do I focus on longer distances or try to get back on the track. Once again, I am confounded. Ugh. Decisions, decisions...
Sidetracked!
There are few things that are certain in life. Death, taxes and the sunrise are a few commonly used examples. I submit that, if you are a distance runner, one certainty is that you will get injured. It might be minor, it might be major, but if you are “pushing the envelope” at all, something is going to go wonky at some point.
I’ve been running for almost 20 years at this point. I’ve had a litany of injuries, everything from muscle strains and joint issues to the most insidious malady, stress fractures. Having a stress fracture isn’t like a normal broken bone. Most of mine have been in my metatarsals, the long bones in the foot. None of them were overly painful, more of a full time annoyance than anything. In fact, I ran through 4 or 5 of them. You typically don’t have to wear a cast; don’t have to do the crutches thing. At most you get a space boot looking thing that you have to Velcro up. People ask about it, you tell them what it is, then you go about your business while walking a bit more chunkily. Again, more annoying than anything else.
I bring this up because I am currently healing up metatarsal SFx number 6. It’s been a good time, not getting to run during my favorite time of the year and having to cross train. (If you aren’t good at reading sarcasm, this might not be the blog for you) I’m a huge fan of the pool and really love getting on the exercise bikes at the gym.
Truth be told, this development was not a complete surprise to me. Not that I have low bone density or problems absorbing calcium. No, I actually saw this one coming. The story goes like this: 2010 was devoted to running everyday. Not missing a day no matter the pain or sickness occurring. There were several times that it would have been easy (or smart) to skip a run. The blizzards, the heat waves, the growing pain in the middle of the right foot, the soreness after running down a mountain, the holidays. All would have been an easy and understandable day off. Not happening. So, around Thanksgiving time I started getting a little more than the normal soreness of the foot. At first, I thought it was soft tissue and treated it as such. After a couple of weeks I realized that I was feeling it even when I was off my feet. I would press around a bit, usually away from Shelly’s watchful eye, and realized what had happened. With just a few days left in 2010, I made the decision to run through the end of the year. New Year’s Eve was just a short run. Before leaving, I asked Shelly to make me an appointment with one of our sports docs. I got my last run in and headed to the doc. After a consultation and an X-ray (or Z-ray if you are familiar with Mitch Hedberg) it was determined that, yes, I did have a SFx. [FYI, x-rays are largely useless in seeing stress fractures until they are healing and a bit of calcium clouding is occurring. When a SFx is in it’s infancy, the best course for a diagnosis is a bone scan or MRI.] I was able to beat the doc to determining the best actions from then on, including rest and non-weight bearing cross training.
The last 3 weeks have been a combo of missing running, kicking ass at cross training and mentally setting goals for myself once I resume running. I don’t think I’ve lost much aerobic fitness in this time off and have certainly gained some upper body strength. I’m really looking forward to getting back into running and maybe even training for an event. I think it is extremely important that, when faced with an injury, you work on staying positive and not dwelling on the past. Simply do what you can to stay healthy, or improve your fitness. Set little goals for yourself. My first goal was to swim for a mile straight. It took a couple of sessions before I was able to achieve that, but when it happened, I actually felt good about myself. My next goal was to swim a mile faster than I had before. I’ve managed to PR in the mile swim 3 times now. I’m currently working on stroke mechanics in the pool, trying to get more efficient. On the bike, I’ve been trying to get out on the roads more frequently. Shelly was thoughtful enough to get me some cold weather biking gear for my birthday, so it has been a much more comfortable prospect. You’d be surprised at how much longer you can stay out when your hands and feet are not frozen solid!
Bottom line is this: If you are a distance runner you are going to experience some down time at some point in your running life. When this occurs, be smart. Just like running, get in a routine. Set attainable, reachable short-range goals and work towards them. Dream big with your long-term goals. Remember why you love your sport and genuinely miss it while you are away. Above all, stay positive and kick ass.
I’ve been running for almost 20 years at this point. I’ve had a litany of injuries, everything from muscle strains and joint issues to the most insidious malady, stress fractures. Having a stress fracture isn’t like a normal broken bone. Most of mine have been in my metatarsals, the long bones in the foot. None of them were overly painful, more of a full time annoyance than anything. In fact, I ran through 4 or 5 of them. You typically don’t have to wear a cast; don’t have to do the crutches thing. At most you get a space boot looking thing that you have to Velcro up. People ask about it, you tell them what it is, then you go about your business while walking a bit more chunkily. Again, more annoying than anything else.
I bring this up because I am currently healing up metatarsal SFx number 6. It’s been a good time, not getting to run during my favorite time of the year and having to cross train. (If you aren’t good at reading sarcasm, this might not be the blog for you) I’m a huge fan of the pool and really love getting on the exercise bikes at the gym.
Truth be told, this development was not a complete surprise to me. Not that I have low bone density or problems absorbing calcium. No, I actually saw this one coming. The story goes like this: 2010 was devoted to running everyday. Not missing a day no matter the pain or sickness occurring. There were several times that it would have been easy (or smart) to skip a run. The blizzards, the heat waves, the growing pain in the middle of the right foot, the soreness after running down a mountain, the holidays. All would have been an easy and understandable day off. Not happening. So, around Thanksgiving time I started getting a little more than the normal soreness of the foot. At first, I thought it was soft tissue and treated it as such. After a couple of weeks I realized that I was feeling it even when I was off my feet. I would press around a bit, usually away from Shelly’s watchful eye, and realized what had happened. With just a few days left in 2010, I made the decision to run through the end of the year. New Year’s Eve was just a short run. Before leaving, I asked Shelly to make me an appointment with one of our sports docs. I got my last run in and headed to the doc. After a consultation and an X-ray (or Z-ray if you are familiar with Mitch Hedberg) it was determined that, yes, I did have a SFx. [FYI, x-rays are largely useless in seeing stress fractures until they are healing and a bit of calcium clouding is occurring. When a SFx is in it’s infancy, the best course for a diagnosis is a bone scan or MRI.] I was able to beat the doc to determining the best actions from then on, including rest and non-weight bearing cross training.
The last 3 weeks have been a combo of missing running, kicking ass at cross training and mentally setting goals for myself once I resume running. I don’t think I’ve lost much aerobic fitness in this time off and have certainly gained some upper body strength. I’m really looking forward to getting back into running and maybe even training for an event. I think it is extremely important that, when faced with an injury, you work on staying positive and not dwelling on the past. Simply do what you can to stay healthy, or improve your fitness. Set little goals for yourself. My first goal was to swim for a mile straight. It took a couple of sessions before I was able to achieve that, but when it happened, I actually felt good about myself. My next goal was to swim a mile faster than I had before. I’ve managed to PR in the mile swim 3 times now. I’m currently working on stroke mechanics in the pool, trying to get more efficient. On the bike, I’ve been trying to get out on the roads more frequently. Shelly was thoughtful enough to get me some cold weather biking gear for my birthday, so it has been a much more comfortable prospect. You’d be surprised at how much longer you can stay out when your hands and feet are not frozen solid!
Bottom line is this: If you are a distance runner you are going to experience some down time at some point in your running life. When this occurs, be smart. Just like running, get in a routine. Set attainable, reachable short-range goals and work towards them. Dream big with your long-term goals. Remember why you love your sport and genuinely miss it while you are away. Above all, stay positive and kick ass.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Just Tri-ing it out
We have recently read a slue of triathlon reports on the PRR blog. Actual athletes, and Brendan, have chimed in on their experiences in the three-sport race. Having recently completed my first Tri, at the VA Run Sprint Triathlon in Centreville, I figure that I will pile on as well.
TRAINING
I gave myself plenty of time to get ready for this event. Being a complete novice at this sport, I wanted to at least get comfortable in each of the three phases. Considering myself a runner, I rarely participate in any other type of activity. Swimming and biking have only been used as a form of therapy from an injury. I knew it was going to be tough to pull all three activities together on the same day, even if they were for relatively short distances. That knowledge did not deter me from, largely, ignoring the non-running training for the tri. I set my bike up on the trainer and was getting to the pool regularly in the early preparation. During the snow storms, I was still able to get out for a run and get in some riding. The pool work suffered with the road conditions, but I still had lots of time. When the spring weather came around, the bike came off the trainer and I was able to get out for my first rides on the roads. Learning how to play with the gears was a chore, but I was getting it down. I fancied myself “dancing on the pedals” but it probably looked more like a fish flopping on dry land. Running was my only consistent sport, as I am in the midst of a (hopefully) year long streak. Managing only a couple of brick workouts, I knew that race day was going to be a day of firsts for me. And probably very painful.
RACE DAY
I could not fall asleep the night before the race, not because of nerves, but because of a poorly planned energy drink and taking my nightly multi-vitamin. Basically, I got a Vitamin B dump that kept me up until 4:15 prior to my 4:30am alarm. Not the most ideal pre-race rest. However, it did give me an opportunity to get some food at a time when I would normally have been sleeping. On the way over to the race, I popped a couple of bags of sport beans and some water. I set up my bike and transition area while trying to figure out how it would all work, and where I was to enter and exit the different competition arenas. All of the volunteers and race officials were great. Super energetic and knowledgeable about the course. I got a quick boost of confidence upon seeing Team Z head coach Ed Zerkle. He asked if I was here to burn up the run course to which I responded that I just wanted to make it that far! ☺ After reassurances that there would be a hamburger fresh off the grill upon my return, we got started.
The swim was in the chilly pool. It was a snake swim, meaning we started on one side of the pool, swam up and back in a lane, ducked under the line and did the same, repeating until the 250y was complete. By 200y, the backlog of swimmers was enough that it was easier to stand up and walk, rather than continue swimming. Fine with me, as it took me a couple of laps to catch my breath from the chilly water!
Finished up the swim and hopped out of the pool, jogging towards the transition area. I was on my way to my first big mistake.
I had swam with just a pair of tri-shorts on. Before getting on the bike, I wanted to make sure I had a top on to keep warm. The night before I pinned my bib number to my shirt so I wouldn’t have to mess with a race number belt. I thought I had left plenty of room to unzip and pop the shirt on, then get going. Nope. My shirt got wrapped up on my wet body and I ended up having to take it off before putting it back on again. Time lost. I did make one good decision in transition, that being to put on gloves. Without those gloves I would have froze on the bike.
The bike course was two 6mile loops with one humongous hill in the middle. I was conservative early on the first loop, seeing how I was feeling and trying to get in a little water. I was passing a lot of folks, which was exciting. Late in the first loop, the leader came rolling by me on his second loop. He sounded (and looked) like a motorcycle going by. I think I actually stopped pedaling for a bit and just watched. It was impressive to see someone powering through like that! I resolved to try to imitate his actions on my second lap. Soon into that lap, I resolved to just be myself and not harbor visions of glory. I was happy to hear from my cheering section a couple of times per lap. They were keeping me moving hard.
The second transition went fairly smoothly. I popped on my racing flats, grabbed a little water and headed out. Crowd support was awesome. It seemed like an unending line of cheers.
I totally underestimated how my legs would feel on the run. After redlining on the bike for little more than a half hour, they were pretty shot. In my pre-race mental imagery I had seen myself looking and feeling smooth, able to shift gears in the run and pass a lot of folks. Shoot, I had won a local 5k not one week ago! It was not to be on this run. I was a one pace pony. After a couple of attempts to change strides and unlock my legs, I decided to “play the ball as it lies” and realize that this is the pace for me on this day. At the out and back turnaround I took a cup of sports drink and proceeded to spill most of it down my face and legs. I did not realize that these drinks could be so sticky! My knees stuck together with every stride. It was amusing on the run to see a young man asking his potential date to prom. I hoped that she said yes. Finally into my last mile my legs felt a bit better and I was able to run like I felt. The downhill finish and a return to the roaring crowds helped as well.
All in all, it was an interesting experience. I’m still so new to these events that I only notice the glaring mistakes. Surely there were many that I made. I do know that the next time I attempt a tri, it will be with proper coaching and supervision. I know Team Z has a new Loudoun County program starting soon. They have fun and get results. Plus, their hamburgers are delicious after the race!
TRAINING
I gave myself plenty of time to get ready for this event. Being a complete novice at this sport, I wanted to at least get comfortable in each of the three phases. Considering myself a runner, I rarely participate in any other type of activity. Swimming and biking have only been used as a form of therapy from an injury. I knew it was going to be tough to pull all three activities together on the same day, even if they were for relatively short distances. That knowledge did not deter me from, largely, ignoring the non-running training for the tri. I set my bike up on the trainer and was getting to the pool regularly in the early preparation. During the snow storms, I was still able to get out for a run and get in some riding. The pool work suffered with the road conditions, but I still had lots of time. When the spring weather came around, the bike came off the trainer and I was able to get out for my first rides on the roads. Learning how to play with the gears was a chore, but I was getting it down. I fancied myself “dancing on the pedals” but it probably looked more like a fish flopping on dry land. Running was my only consistent sport, as I am in the midst of a (hopefully) year long streak. Managing only a couple of brick workouts, I knew that race day was going to be a day of firsts for me. And probably very painful.
RACE DAY
I could not fall asleep the night before the race, not because of nerves, but because of a poorly planned energy drink and taking my nightly multi-vitamin. Basically, I got a Vitamin B dump that kept me up until 4:15 prior to my 4:30am alarm. Not the most ideal pre-race rest. However, it did give me an opportunity to get some food at a time when I would normally have been sleeping. On the way over to the race, I popped a couple of bags of sport beans and some water. I set up my bike and transition area while trying to figure out how it would all work, and where I was to enter and exit the different competition arenas. All of the volunteers and race officials were great. Super energetic and knowledgeable about the course. I got a quick boost of confidence upon seeing Team Z head coach Ed Zerkle. He asked if I was here to burn up the run course to which I responded that I just wanted to make it that far! ☺ After reassurances that there would be a hamburger fresh off the grill upon my return, we got started.
The swim was in the chilly pool. It was a snake swim, meaning we started on one side of the pool, swam up and back in a lane, ducked under the line and did the same, repeating until the 250y was complete. By 200y, the backlog of swimmers was enough that it was easier to stand up and walk, rather than continue swimming. Fine with me, as it took me a couple of laps to catch my breath from the chilly water!
Finished up the swim and hopped out of the pool, jogging towards the transition area. I was on my way to my first big mistake.
I had swam with just a pair of tri-shorts on. Before getting on the bike, I wanted to make sure I had a top on to keep warm. The night before I pinned my bib number to my shirt so I wouldn’t have to mess with a race number belt. I thought I had left plenty of room to unzip and pop the shirt on, then get going. Nope. My shirt got wrapped up on my wet body and I ended up having to take it off before putting it back on again. Time lost. I did make one good decision in transition, that being to put on gloves. Without those gloves I would have froze on the bike.
The bike course was two 6mile loops with one humongous hill in the middle. I was conservative early on the first loop, seeing how I was feeling and trying to get in a little water. I was passing a lot of folks, which was exciting. Late in the first loop, the leader came rolling by me on his second loop. He sounded (and looked) like a motorcycle going by. I think I actually stopped pedaling for a bit and just watched. It was impressive to see someone powering through like that! I resolved to try to imitate his actions on my second lap. Soon into that lap, I resolved to just be myself and not harbor visions of glory. I was happy to hear from my cheering section a couple of times per lap. They were keeping me moving hard.
The second transition went fairly smoothly. I popped on my racing flats, grabbed a little water and headed out. Crowd support was awesome. It seemed like an unending line of cheers.
I totally underestimated how my legs would feel on the run. After redlining on the bike for little more than a half hour, they were pretty shot. In my pre-race mental imagery I had seen myself looking and feeling smooth, able to shift gears in the run and pass a lot of folks. Shoot, I had won a local 5k not one week ago! It was not to be on this run. I was a one pace pony. After a couple of attempts to change strides and unlock my legs, I decided to “play the ball as it lies” and realize that this is the pace for me on this day. At the out and back turnaround I took a cup of sports drink and proceeded to spill most of it down my face and legs. I did not realize that these drinks could be so sticky! My knees stuck together with every stride. It was amusing on the run to see a young man asking his potential date to prom. I hoped that she said yes. Finally into my last mile my legs felt a bit better and I was able to run like I felt. The downhill finish and a return to the roaring crowds helped as well.
All in all, it was an interesting experience. I’m still so new to these events that I only notice the glaring mistakes. Surely there were many that I made. I do know that the next time I attempt a tri, it will be with proper coaching and supervision. I know Team Z has a new Loudoun County program starting soon. They have fun and get results. Plus, their hamburgers are delicious after the race!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Rainy Runs
There is nothing like heading out for a run after a rainstorm. Here in the DC area, the late spring/early summer offers us ample opportunity to get out the door under these conditions. The air seems a little easier to breathe, the trails have gotten a bit sloppy and sometimes you can see a little steam rising off the ground. These are the times I love to lace up an old pair of shoes and see what kind of mess I can make. I liken it to mud-bogging without the aid of Detroit’s technology. After a particularly heavy rain (sometimes during), you’ll probably see me mucking up the trails, thick mud up to my shins and generally looking like a soaked dog. All with a huge grin.
I don’t know what it is about the rain, or precipitation in general, that revs my engine. Perhaps I’m an overgrown kid and I like getting dirty. Maybe it is that little voice in the sub-conscious that repeats the old cliché, “Somewhere in the world someone is training, and when you race them, they will beat you.” It also could be the “Wow” factor. I don’t mind being told that I’m crazy for running in those conditions; In fact, I sort of revel in it! Largely, I believe it to be that I appreciate the extremes of what Mother Nature throws at us. Storms and flooding are interesting to me and I enjoy being a part of them (in a safe manner of course).
As far back as I can remember in my running life I’ve loved the pure soaking of storms and high water. In high school, we had plenty of water crossings on our trails. At William and Mary, we had storms that would fill blocks of the main Colonial drag with 12-18 inches of water. It was hard to resist getting your feet (and knees, butt and shoulders) wet! It was a magnet.
All of this leads to my run yesterday. After the strong storms of the weekend, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to head out and survey the stream valley just behind my neighborhood. I figured the stream would be pretty high, the cement pylons for crossing would be totally covered. When my wife and I got to the stream, we found it to be about 4 feet higher than normal, dirty water rushing its way toward the bay. Neither of us are fools, we’ve certainly seen the videos of people swept away by fast flowing streams…crossing was immediately off the plate. So we chose a path that paralleled the stream, close enough to see and hear the roaring water, but far enough away for safety’s sake. We passed some kindred spirits along the trail, each gazing at that mystical flowing stream. Splashing through some small puddles, we came upon a particularly low section of the trail. Having run this section a hundred times, we each knew the course, but the entirety of the trail was underwater. We continued moving forward, feet getting wet, then ankles, then shins, then knees. At this point I should mention that my wife is a bit “vertically challenged”. I call her Smurfette even if she is just a bit taller than their standard 3 apple heights. The water is getting deeper and we are pressing forward. I hear her stop her watch and I glance backward with a questioning look. She is standing waist deep in this “puddle” and tells me that she can no longer get her knees out of the water, so she has to walk the remaining distance. Fortunately, it did not get any higher and we did not have to swim our way out. However, my wife declined the invitation to make it an “out and back” run…we looped our way back along higher ground. I was pleased to initiate her into the rainy run club and find that she did not entirely hate it.
One note for rainy run days: Make sure you place towels by the door so you do not have to traipse through the house while in drowned rat status. :)
I don’t know what it is about the rain, or precipitation in general, that revs my engine. Perhaps I’m an overgrown kid and I like getting dirty. Maybe it is that little voice in the sub-conscious that repeats the old cliché, “Somewhere in the world someone is training, and when you race them, they will beat you.” It also could be the “Wow” factor. I don’t mind being told that I’m crazy for running in those conditions; In fact, I sort of revel in it! Largely, I believe it to be that I appreciate the extremes of what Mother Nature throws at us. Storms and flooding are interesting to me and I enjoy being a part of them (in a safe manner of course).
As far back as I can remember in my running life I’ve loved the pure soaking of storms and high water. In high school, we had plenty of water crossings on our trails. At William and Mary, we had storms that would fill blocks of the main Colonial drag with 12-18 inches of water. It was hard to resist getting your feet (and knees, butt and shoulders) wet! It was a magnet.
All of this leads to my run yesterday. After the strong storms of the weekend, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to head out and survey the stream valley just behind my neighborhood. I figured the stream would be pretty high, the cement pylons for crossing would be totally covered. When my wife and I got to the stream, we found it to be about 4 feet higher than normal, dirty water rushing its way toward the bay. Neither of us are fools, we’ve certainly seen the videos of people swept away by fast flowing streams…crossing was immediately off the plate. So we chose a path that paralleled the stream, close enough to see and hear the roaring water, but far enough away for safety’s sake. We passed some kindred spirits along the trail, each gazing at that mystical flowing stream. Splashing through some small puddles, we came upon a particularly low section of the trail. Having run this section a hundred times, we each knew the course, but the entirety of the trail was underwater. We continued moving forward, feet getting wet, then ankles, then shins, then knees. At this point I should mention that my wife is a bit “vertically challenged”. I call her Smurfette even if she is just a bit taller than their standard 3 apple heights. The water is getting deeper and we are pressing forward. I hear her stop her watch and I glance backward with a questioning look. She is standing waist deep in this “puddle” and tells me that she can no longer get her knees out of the water, so she has to walk the remaining distance. Fortunately, it did not get any higher and we did not have to swim our way out. However, my wife declined the invitation to make it an “out and back” run…we looped our way back along higher ground. I was pleased to initiate her into the rainy run club and find that she did not entirely hate it.
One note for rainy run days: Make sure you place towels by the door so you do not have to traipse through the house while in drowned rat status. :)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Back to the Future
Occasionally living in the past is a good thing. It is nice to remember what you’ve done and to be proud of past accomplishments. It is great to get together with folks who knew you “when”. Falling comfortably back into the old days, even for an all too brief weekend is a wonderful way to recharge the batteries.
I had the opportunity to literally and figuratively step back in time this weekend. My college roommate was inducted into our school’s athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday and my wife and I headed to Colonial Williamsburg to attend. The College of William and Mary at springtime is one of the more glorious places to be. The flowers bloom a little earlier, the air a bit warmer as a sleepy tourist town re-awakens. Shelly and I got there early, in time to run a few of the old routes that used to be my days and ways. I probably bored the heck out of her, recounting old stories of teammates and some of the silliness that occurs when you pack 35 fit and (generally) focused distance runners into a recreated colonial town. Sometimes you had to make your own fun given the surroundings.
As with many of the runs from campus, we started down the main colonial drag, D.O.G. Street. Per usual, the streets were crowded with school groups and tourists eager to soak in the atmosphere. Some of the more memorable moments of my college career occurred on this street, warming up and cooling down for races and workouts. [BEGIN FLASHBACK] There is always a brave child who wants to impress his or her schoolmates by yelling at the passing runners (runners are cowardly by nature, right? I mean, they are running away!). Each thought they were being original when yelling, “faster, faster” or “Run Forest Run”, not realizing that we had heard this hundreds of times. The one comment that ever stopped us in our tracks (figuratively, we kept running) was while cooling down from a long session of 1ks on the track. Several of us scholar-athletes were making the usual loop, shirts off, happy to be done with the workout. We could see the kid, probably 10 years old, get the wild eyes, inspiration brewing in his little skull. He popped off with, “How are you going to get girls with chests like that?” Academic All-Americans, Monroe scholars and valedictorians among the 15 of us and what could we respond with? Certainly it would be witty and slightly cutting sarcasm. Nope, the best we could manage was a hurtful “shut up”. It was a sad day for academia. [END FLASHBACK]
The weekend was a wonderful time to celebrate the career of my former teammate. He was a three time all-American at the 800m event and is currently a lawyer in NYC. Several of our old teammates showed up as well; we had a great time reminiscing and reconnecting with old friends. We even got to see the current team members hammer a workout on the track. It was as if everything came full circle. Here were the young, bright and talented athletes of the present lapping a track that also contains our blood, sweat and tears. The current team members were just as focused and driven as we had been at that time. They were polite enough to listen to our stories, just as we had done when alumni visited. My hope for them is that, in 15 years time, they also get to come back and experience the feelings and memories of a weekend in the past.
I had the opportunity to literally and figuratively step back in time this weekend. My college roommate was inducted into our school’s athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday and my wife and I headed to Colonial Williamsburg to attend. The College of William and Mary at springtime is one of the more glorious places to be. The flowers bloom a little earlier, the air a bit warmer as a sleepy tourist town re-awakens. Shelly and I got there early, in time to run a few of the old routes that used to be my days and ways. I probably bored the heck out of her, recounting old stories of teammates and some of the silliness that occurs when you pack 35 fit and (generally) focused distance runners into a recreated colonial town. Sometimes you had to make your own fun given the surroundings.
As with many of the runs from campus, we started down the main colonial drag, D.O.G. Street. Per usual, the streets were crowded with school groups and tourists eager to soak in the atmosphere. Some of the more memorable moments of my college career occurred on this street, warming up and cooling down for races and workouts. [BEGIN FLASHBACK] There is always a brave child who wants to impress his or her schoolmates by yelling at the passing runners (runners are cowardly by nature, right? I mean, they are running away!). Each thought they were being original when yelling, “faster, faster” or “Run Forest Run”, not realizing that we had heard this hundreds of times. The one comment that ever stopped us in our tracks (figuratively, we kept running) was while cooling down from a long session of 1ks on the track. Several of us scholar-athletes were making the usual loop, shirts off, happy to be done with the workout. We could see the kid, probably 10 years old, get the wild eyes, inspiration brewing in his little skull. He popped off with, “How are you going to get girls with chests like that?” Academic All-Americans, Monroe scholars and valedictorians among the 15 of us and what could we respond with? Certainly it would be witty and slightly cutting sarcasm. Nope, the best we could manage was a hurtful “shut up”. It was a sad day for academia. [END FLASHBACK]
The weekend was a wonderful time to celebrate the career of my former teammate. He was a three time all-American at the 800m event and is currently a lawyer in NYC. Several of our old teammates showed up as well; we had a great time reminiscing and reconnecting with old friends. We even got to see the current team members hammer a workout on the track. It was as if everything came full circle. Here were the young, bright and talented athletes of the present lapping a track that also contains our blood, sweat and tears. The current team members were just as focused and driven as we had been at that time. They were polite enough to listen to our stories, just as we had done when alumni visited. My hope for them is that, in 15 years time, they also get to come back and experience the feelings and memories of a weekend in the past.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Weekend Schedule
Looks like it will be a fairly rainy weekend. Can you really stand to sit through another DVD movie that you’ve seen a hundred times? If you are a track fan, I’ve got all your weekend plans and you don’t even have to leave your computer!
No matter what level of track and field that you prefer, it will be on your interwebs this weekend. Enjoy watching the elite athletes? Head over to Universal Sports and their website as they broadcast from Doha and the World Indoor Track and Field Championships. Don’t want to root for your country? How about your alma mater? The NCAA Track and Field championships will be on ESPN360 and Flotrack throughout the weekend. Perhaps you’d like to cheer on some of the nation’s future stars? The dueling high school national championship meets also occur this weekend, one in NYC and the other in Boston. Check out Dyestat (if you are a high school track aficionado, you already knew this) for all the HS information.
Lots and lots going on! I’m excited to get some results and check out some great racing. If you’re more in the learning mood, check out the PRR Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PRRunning1 for some info on Dynamic Flexibility and a simple strength circuit.
Enjoy!
No matter what level of track and field that you prefer, it will be on your interwebs this weekend. Enjoy watching the elite athletes? Head over to Universal Sports and their website as they broadcast from Doha and the World Indoor Track and Field Championships. Don’t want to root for your country? How about your alma mater? The NCAA Track and Field championships will be on ESPN360 and Flotrack throughout the weekend. Perhaps you’d like to cheer on some of the nation’s future stars? The dueling high school national championship meets also occur this weekend, one in NYC and the other in Boston. Check out Dyestat (if you are a high school track aficionado, you already knew this) for all the HS information.
Lots and lots going on! I’m excited to get some results and check out some great racing. If you’re more in the learning mood, check out the PRR Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PRRunning1 for some info on Dynamic Flexibility and a simple strength circuit.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)