Last Cigarette

Last night I saw a rugged, tired looking man of about 50 throw a cigarette butt out the window of his shiny red extended cab late model pickup truck.  I watched it roll and smoke on the pavement until he turned and another car drove by, blowing the butt from my view.  Who on Earth does he think picks that up?  Whatever happened to personal responsibility?  I’ve decided one of the reasons I like the Cho is because it teaches personal responsibility.  You want the window rolled down?  Do it yourself.  You want the door locked?  It’s up to you.

Sunshine On My Shoulders

Here’s my tip for the day:  If you listen to an iPod on long runs, be sure to excise any John Denver music before starting out.  This weekend at about mile 17, in 100 degree heat with no shade in sight, John Denver started crooning about “sunshine on my shoulders”.  The last thing I wanted to think about was the bright sun beating down on my shoulders.  I had already implemented my cooling system that involves getting a large washcloth soaking wet with cold water and fastening it around my neck while I occasionally grab a corner to wipe the sweat from my face.  I had five miles left to go and I did not need the dulcet tones of Mr. Denver!

This weekend I ran over 34 miles in two days.  It felt much better than the previous weekend.  Probably in part to my spanking new fuel belt and probably because I ran so long last weekend.  Yesterday, I averaged faster than 9 minute miles which surprised me a little bit.  I might just be able to have fun at Twin Cities after all.

Welcome to Wherever You Are

I had to run 19 miles today.  When I have a long run, I find myself rehearsing it ahead of time.  I plan my route, my water, my fuel.  I try to get people to accompany me for all or part, but my buddies aren’t training for a marathon and this request usually falls on deaf ears. 

Yesterday I was supposed to run 9, but I woke up and had no one to run with, so I drove to South Mountain to run a 5K.  I don’t like 5Ks.  I don’t like feeling like I have to throw up.  It was already in the 90s by the time the race started at 6:30.  I stopped for Gatorade at the halfway point and heard my sister’s voice in my ear scoffing.  In my head I told her to shut up as I threw my cup in the trash and started running again.  The invention of the iPod has destroyed much of the social nature of road racing.  I realized as I ran that no one was talking.  I shouted to friends I saw running back while I was still running out.  I encouraged kids who were running.  (This race series offers free entries to kids!)  But few responded.  After mile 2, I saw my friend, Eden, up ahead.  I knew my pace was faster than hers at the moment and if I just maintained, I could catch her.  When I got there, I tapped her elbow.  She picked up her pace a bit and as we turned the corner to the finish, I said “Come on, let’s do this together.”  Officially, I was one second ahead of her although we crossed the finish side by side.  She was 7th in her age group, but due to the gifts of getting older, I was 3rd.

After the race, I hung out with my friend, Karen, and I visited with many of my distant running buddies I don’t get to see very often.  I love the running community. 

Running a 5K race is not good preparation for a 19 mile run.  I was destroyed yesterday and had to take a nap.  I tried to push fluids yesterday getting ready for today.  This morning I staged an ice chest out front.  My own aid station.  It was 5:20 AM when I started and I thought I might be running for, worst case, 4 hours.  I planned on doing three loops, but I stretched them and modified my route enroute and ended up only doing 2.  I ran by every drinking fountain (“bubbler” to my Wisconsin friends) I knew and even altered my route to make multiple hits on the same fountain.  I saved the hills for the end to try to replicate Twin Cities.  By then it was over 100 and humid.  The drinking fountains were too far apart and the last one I planned on was behind a locked gate, which I hadn’t planned on.  I had to walk a few times.  Nevertheless, I got in 19.7 miles and I’ll take it.  I might just be able to do this marathon after all.  One way or another, I have already trained more than my hip would allow for Boston.

Simple Things

Who would have ever thought that parking cars could be so much fun?

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