Running Secrets

Running has its ups and downs. We can be plagued with injuries or infused with victories.
After years and years of running the only true constant is the sound of my shoe as it strikes the ground.
Runners are dynamic creatures with many reasons to run. For me the reward is a sense of harmony with myself and the world around me. But lately my runs have become a battleground.

Restarting at a base training level may be a solution. 

As Jack Daniels so well put, “Training is often demanding and not necessarily fun, but it should always be rewarding!”

At the end of the run, I want to feel energized and ready to tackle the day.

Do you have any running secrets?

Image BuzzDash

Lost – The Zen of Running

Somewhere along the road I’ve lost my Zen of running. It was my sanctuary. A motion, a place, a time all my own. Now it feels like a chore. And I mean chore! I’m breathing heavy, my heart rate is up – I just want to stop running and walk!
This greatly saddens me as running was something simple – that I enjoyed.
It’s right up there in my top 3 things life has to offer.

Why the change?

Something wrong with the mechanics? I’ve been waking up with uneasiness that something is physically wrong with me. (The hypochondriac syndrome.). I do have an appt for a full physical soon.
Another life passage? As Gail Sheehy in Passages so honestly said;

” All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another!"

Classic case of burnout? Many days I had to force myself to do the long runs while training for the Half…

Whatever is going on; let’s pray I get over it fast. I miss my relationship with running.

I see John “the penguin” Bingham is working on a plan to get out of a slump – I hope it works for him. Finding the Rhythm

Some mindful suggestions I’ve been considering: [Thanks Donna Cardillo]

• Set intention.
• Ground yourself.
• Create good karma.
• Affirm your path.
• Aspire to new heights.
• Be mindful in everything you do.
• Tap into your life force.

Do you have any ideas? I would appreciate your feedback.
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Runner Burnout?

"Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” – Anne Lamott

This line reminds me of my obsession with trying so hard to be the best and then failing… Why can’t I just be happy with what I have accomplished?
My big race day creeps up and even thought I’ve trained religiously – I feel like a beginner – fatigued, heavy, downgraded. I’ve lost my spunk!
It might just be a case of runners’ burnout – but I think it’s something more ominous...

For those who still crave a challenge - I found this little tidbit in a training newsletter.

Pre’s training workout before the 1972 Olympics included:
1200m repeats at 3:12, 3:09, 3:06, and 3:00 pace. “It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement.” – Pre
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Quotes That Heal

As I said to myself, “No please – not my back…” my running schedule materialized; but like smoke from a Genie's bottle, it disappeared into thin air. I’ve been here before and know the routine. No running until the back pain is under control...

Quotes that helped:

“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
* Stop blaming myself.

"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." Tony Robbins
* There is always something I can learn about my body.

"It’s human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn't banging loudly on the door.” David Hackworth
* I will never grumble about going for a run again!

"Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart." Rumi
* My work is running.

"Don't give up. Don't ever give up." Jim Valvano
* Looking over my race bibs and times – I’ve still got a lot to do.

"Life is about timing." Carl Lewis
* Taking some time off from running (even if it is forced) gives me time for reflection.

"Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain." Joseph Campbell
* My joy is to just be outside – whatever I do out there will carry me through the day. I’m going to attempt a very gentle run later today. And if I have to walk – that’s OK!

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Validate Weakness

What are your weaknesses and what are you doing about them?

“Unfortunately, the only way to address a weakness is to work on it and go through the discomfort and shame.”
- Facing Your Own Weakness

I honestly think half of the battle is to validate your failure or weakness. We (humans) tend to think we are in much better condition than we actually are. [Super Funny]

I have used my 4 components of fitness to scrutinize my weaknesses.

Aerobics
I don’t have a running coach so not sure how fast I should be pacing my training runs. I believe I train too hard! I exhaust myself and then feel bad because I'm so tired at the end of my workout. And so the cycle goes.

Rest
Doing too much – especially when I go to the gym. I feel I have to work out every muscle. By the afternoon – I’m dead tired.

Diet
I eat to much chocolate! And other sweets stuff. Hooked at an early age – I blame my Mom for pacifying me with milk and cookies.

Strength
This one is easy for me to identify. My tiny triceps. Because they are weak – I don’t enjoy any moves that employ them. Ex. Dips, kickbacks, or push-ups.

Now I have to get working on some solutions…any ideas?

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Half Marathon Rundown

In the jargon of the sport, I hit the wall. I was cruising along – keeping an eye on my pace. The 10 mile marker was the last I remember…



After that I ran the best I could. Coming in 2 minutes slower than last year. (Hey, the course had changed - more hills. (excuse #12)
I did however accomplish my backup goal which was coming in under 2 hours.


The Wild, the Weird and the Wonderful

• men running topless.
• empty ketchup packages. Cheap carb fix?
• so many spectators along the way – high fives and cheers!
• some guy running with his massage stick.
• a cap with little holders specifically for Clif Shot Bloks.
• the scent of well used port-o-potties at the 9 mile stretch.
• a runner, post race, dry heaving on the curbside. O, that was me – how embarrassing.
• a belt buckle medal! (Not really - just took the neck strap off.)
  

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Favorite start line shout: "You’re almost finished."
Favorite shirt logo: “I never trained for this race.”
~
AV time for the Eugene half-marathon was Average Time: 2:23:51
Make your own Wristband at live2run

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The Day Before

Galloway suggests “Don’t run the day before the big race.” And I’m going to take that advice! I’ve completed 4 months of training – you would think I'd feel ready, but I don’t...

This year’s formula
+
I completed my training and sustained no injuries.
-
a) I didn’t train hard enough. b) I should have added a few extra miles on the long run days - just lazy. c) I didn’t go fast enough in training the races.
=
Doubtful attempt to preserve last year’s PR of 1:55

“If we work off of plans for a model airplane, we’re not going to end up with a spaceship.” E. Larsen

The Good, the Sad, and the Ugly

Race Recap - 10 mile Pear Blossom race

The Good

• Was able to connect with other runners in the race using Twitter. Extra fun - a local news station reporter set up a time to interview me via a tweet. (No, I didn’t get my 30 seconds of fame.)
• Maintained my half-marathon race pace to discover I had lots of steam at the end.
• I was dressed just right! The weather was perfect for running!
• Lots of police on motorcycles controlling traffic.
• Enjoyed seeing old buildings in the city.
• A young girl was handing out Twizzlers at the 9 mile mark.

The Sad

• The race organizers did not time the 5k entries. There were over a thousand runners.
• I did not sleep much the night before – despite bringing my own pillow.
• Discovered the lotion I used at the hotel, to massage my feet with, was hair conditioner.
• Witnessed an expensive iPod skip across the asphalt. I wonder if the guy had to run the rest of the race in silence.
• Spotting the halfway mark in the far distance, after climbing up and over the hill.
• The post race raisin bread – had no raisins just cinnamon chips. (But still tasted pretty good.)

The Ugly

• Despite maintaining my half-marathon pace and coming in sooner than expected, I felt deflated when seeing the final race results. I wasn’t even in the top half...

Swag

• Bright orange hand towel.

Fav T-shirt Words

“Paris Rome Frankfurt” For that international flavor.
“That’s How I Roll” Possibilities - roller derby gal, a pastry chef or a pot smoker?

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“How Did it Get So Late So Soon?”

I’ve been struggling lately with time.
The day starts: with dog walking, reading emails, running, cleaning, cooking, - work! Many days there is simply not enough time to do EVERYTHING .
The time blogging evaporates before me as I delve into a topic or open Photoshop to edit an image.Everything seems to take longer than planned!

The reason for this blog was to explore my thoughts about running and share training strategies , but it has turned into more of a mandatory assignment.

How to Create Space and When You’re Always in a Rush

So please - bear with me as I make some timely adjustments.

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Seuss

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Lowering the Bar

The problem with setting your goals to high is the painful disappointment when you don’t succeed. It is inevitable at some point in your running you will reach your max. Time becomes a variable. There is nothing you can do that will change this path.
So why do we continue to think training hard is the panacea for every failed PR?
Failure - like an open sore won’t heal unless you:

• adjust your focus.
• accept loss and move on.
• be happy with what you have (Yeah that’s right kara - count your blessings!)
• ask yourself what really matters…

Starting today I will reduce my speed work to just one session a week. And not enter the 10miler race this October.

Read
this post by Matt as he ponders what the actual benefits of training harder.
And
Keep on Running

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1 Mile Challenge Unsuccessful

Runnerkara – beat a 7:15 PR from 2006 – I’m not getting any younger!
So close...racing solo is just no fun...



Hopefully Reid had better results.

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To Roam Free

During my run today, I couldn’t clear my head of recent headline news.
Scenes of a new born baby elephant crying for its mother.
It was born in captivity at the Portland Zoo Aug 23. Zoo officials had to separate the pair at birth as the Mother was being too aggressive towards it.
[Perhaps she knows what a sad existence it will have to endure – if it survives...]
I am able to run free and roam for as far as I need. Sadly these large animals can not. In the wild they typically cover up to 30 miles a day…
From an article the Portland Monthly Magazine - the zoo’s director concluded they are a necessary attraction. I think not! Please don't keep them just to bring in dollars for the zoo. There are places willing to accept them. Organizations such as PAWS and Riddles Elephant Sanctuary. (I send yearly donations to these wonderful folks.)

Rethinking Spaces Where Elephants Can't Roam
Elephants Love Water Video
Running Barefoot
When Elephants Weep...

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The Value of Comments

I value the opinions of other runners. Generally you have experienced the same ups and downs – but your take on the situation is different.
There is great wisdom in comments.

This comment especially touched a nerve.

“Racing can be a lot of things, and it’s easy to forget why we race to begin with. Racing should never be about winning, or about time. Racing should always be about seeing how hard you can push yourself on any given race day. Sometimes the ‘best’ race people run is also their worst finish time for that distance. And if you tell people your time, they will usually utter an apology. And you usually accept it, because…how do you explain that you fought every step this race, that your mind told you to quit with loudspeakers and drums and your body told you to give up with aches and pains previously unimagined; but that you continued…you fought on…and that you are proud of that time because you refused to let your fear triumph. Most people don’t understand that, finish times are easier to understand.”

Thank-you Big - > your awareness is remarkable.

Disappointment Revisited

Flying home, I had a chance to catch up on my reading. Runner’s World had an interesting article on - learning how to mange your emotions.
They went over several scenarios including this one ->Missing a predicted race time goal makes you depressed.
Hark – July 4th was the date of my last race and I’m still bummed out about it.
So here are some of their suggestions I’m going to try.

• Sign up for another 10K race!
• Read up on running in the heat. There are tons of articles about this.
• Record my emotional state. Write it down or talk about it. (Doing that right now!)
• Believe that failure gives rise to improvement.

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Dealing With Disappointment

Just wondering how athletes and other runners deal with disappointment.

I was at the Olympic Track and Field Trails yesterday - actually outside the main gate, but close enough to hear the starting gun. There were hundreds watching the last events unfold on twin Jumbotron Screens.
I was particularly sad to see Gabe Jennings fall behind in the final 1500. He had the lead and then gasp – it faded away.
Talk about disappointment. His dream postponed or erased?

A comment from Gabe after the race:

“I wanted it real bad…I guess I have to stick around for another four years now, damn.”

Many times when we are disappointed when want to blame others. We complain a lot. We get angry and even feel sorry for ourselves.
Worst yet – we stop taking risks. We don’t want to set ourselves up for another failure.
I run away (sorry for the pun) from my failures. I’m disappointed because my body did not behave as I had requested. Instead I should be more compassionate after all I’m only human.
Yes, there are some exceptional human beings – but I bet if I interviewed them they would mention that they also lost a few along the way.
How do you deal with disappointment?

"The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way. "
Robert Kiyosaki

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