St George. A Half that was Full.

I'm told not just once before but several times now that running is 90% mental. That percentage may be somewhat adjustable, but I have heard it used in relatively similar ranges. Far be it from me to argue the point as I faced the St. George Half marathon last weekend with some significant burdens plaguing my mind. The run turned out decent as the scenery was something to see. The paved river trail that bordered the Dixie convention center served as a great back-drop for runners to have some visual input while the pounding produced the normal effects of sore feet etc. It was an enjoyable run.

Yet this whole thing about mental clarity comes to surface. It is absolutely amazing how much power there is inside the human mind, held captive in ideas and released through the imagination. Circumstances and events that hold sway over our attention managing to direct our thinking patterns into realms that eventually cripple us not only emotionally but when it comes to running....physically as well. 
In endurance running, time is an enemy that constantly follows you, attempting to devour you and the goals set before you. Even a gifted runner with speed will be on the course for over an hour during a half marathon, over two hours in a full. for the average runner a full is looking at four or more hours. So it was when I entered this half marathon my brain simply would not shut down. Yet it wasn't only the race that was effected but the training runs prior to the race, where my energy levels have been drained, motivation lacking any kind of signs of life, and my body hurting in areas it really should not have been. Each factor in and of itself not enough to weigh heavily upon me, but together it has been one combined mixing bowl of disinterest and anxiety. So when it comes to my brain, I know the pains I put my coach through when he tells me again and again to turn off my brain. And he would be right.
If it is in fact true that running is 90% mental, then endurance running is more about how much I can endure mentally and how it directly relates to my running than how my legs can keep moving step after step. Deep down inside I know the secret to turning it off lies in the knowledge of the peace I have not only in this life but the life to come. My trials I have to remember are temporal at best, and the rejection or disapproval I receive from others are worth no more than the approvals I receive as well. So its in the approval of my Creator where I find my true peace, and in His peace I know I can find the clarity of mind that will set me free.
So I run slow. I have about ten more pounds to lose. I need more strength training. I need more this less that. Got it. Thats the 10%. How about the 90%? I have been carrying so much ecxtra weight in my brain that my running has suffered. The baggage comes in manyh different forms and from sources that number from anytime to anywhere. So what is the solution? How this thought to ponder: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

And with that I just lost about thirty pounds of garbage.  

Yucky gatorade.

Extra Weight

I was half expecting a race held on a track outside the YMCA, so I couldn't have been more surprised when I found a very challenging course through very pretty country. My race yesterday took place in Highland CA, where all the rain in the last few weeks caused serious damage to homes through high levels of mud flows. There were still signs as many neighborhoods were closed off as construction vehicles cleared the excess debris.
The race was sponsored by the local YMCA and they hosted a good race. Results have not been posted, but I think there were 200 in the half marathon. Departing Arroyo Verde ES the start actually faces uphill and the first half mile just that: UPHILL! I felt like I was on a stairmaster. Not a good way to start if you suffer from shin splints. The first turn was a right turn where you get a small break with slight downhill then another uphill followed by the same grade revering directions and a long downhill where your legs are brutally beaten with each footfall crushing the pavement beneath.
Finally, after making up some time speeding at ridiculous paces, runner head east on the main road. For the next four miles the grade is an even low-percentage grade uphill climb until reaching the turn-around amidst the orange groves. It is here runner feel like NASCAR runners entering a high bank turn to make the 180degree hairpin as the the climb up requires a rope. The aid station here maintains a woman standing in the middle of the road holding a sign that reads "Half Turn-Around" and she receives unjust bruises as runners pummel her trying to gain an extra inch as they make the turn around her.
The return trip seems to be a reward as the low-grade hill is now in favor of the exhausted athlete. For the next four miles or so the pace is slightly increased and precious time is made up. But just as mile 13 falls by the wayside, a final hands and knees type hill looms in front of the finish line. It is here careers are made or lost as runners strain to prove themselves worthy of being hailed a runner.
I crossed the line after making four passes in the last two miles, and I had to push it hard to make those passes! Standing just past the line were a gauntlet of volunteers ready to tackle me to the ground lest they got their timing chip back.....and it was then I found out...there were no medals for 7th place. It appears only the top three in each division receive medals, plus the overall, neither of which contained my name. At least I got this really un-cool T-shirt and many pains.
Today the ice is out and the pictures have been processed and I reflect on a really great course. It challenged me in every way possible, something I look for in a training run. But one thing I noticed was in the pictures themselves. I am carrying a lot of extra weight!!! I knew I felt it the day before, but then the pics showed that belly hangover, the DUNLOPS disease, the extra tire, the muffin top....and its no wonder I have knee problems, shin problems, slow speed, and a lack of energy. I mean get a grip, man!

Wait wait wait...is this really true? Carrying all this extra weight just slows me down and makes me look like I don't belong? The extra baggage is stuff I am holding onto that I really can let go of and run free? Seems like an analogy in there somewhere.

Week 2 of Training for 50

Wednesday, 12JAN2011, 7pm, and I am halfway into my second week of my training plan for my next goal race: a 50-miler. My mileage has increased and the intervals and thresholds are minimal. By the time Sunday the 17th rolls around I will have racked up over 100 miles in two weeks. Tonight I am feeling it. Not only am I very tired but I have pains, particularly in the hip flexor muscle area. I have been stretching and icing as much as I can, actually sitting on an ice pack at work. But this is the expectations for doing something like this, coupled with taking four weeks off over Christmas and New Year. I have a 6-miler in the morning, then I am off until Saturday/Sunday.
I got my Hammer uniforms yesterday. VERY NICE! All I need to do is lose some of my belly and I should look halfway decent in them. In a couple months I should be able to hit the pool and start working on the swim part of the year. Eventually it will be time to get the bike and hit the road. But thats later days.
I have a few things to address, based on questions that have been posed to me mostly by Erin E. a blessed sister serving overseas right now. The one questoin she asked about was distances. Basically runs follow the metric system, beginning with a 5K which = 3.1 miles. Next comes the 10K and more than likely after that is the half-marathon @ 13.1 miles. Based on smartness, you now know the full is 26.2 miles. Here is something of note: you hear many people leave out the .1 and the .2 in the half and full marathons. It seems insignificant until you get out and start running. By the time you hit 13 or 26, the .1 or .2 become EXTREMELY significant.
Next: Race naming conventions. Last weekend I raced in the "Running From an Angel" race as presented by Calico racing. This particular race has an evil twin called "Running With the Devil" appropriately named since it is held in June every ear with high temps reaching 115 degrees. Hence the two names. Bottom line? Names can come from anything. I ran a Half in NC called "Cannonball Run." That was one of my favorite stories since it was freezing cold and rainy that day.
Okay....with that I can tell I am rambling and need to sign off. Definitely time for bed.

Running From an Angel

Today was my first race for 2011 under a new Hammer Sponsorship. The last four weeks have shown little by way of exercise or activity as I focused on enjoying my time with family over Christmas and New Years, but also with a lot of work stress thrown on top of it. ONce I got word of my Hammer sponsorship though, I am back at it, and after today's race, this is the letter I drafted to my coach:
Let me give you a synapses of my week:
4miler on Wednesday: A bit uneasy getting back on the treadmill after having four weeks off. I always think about the physics law "Objects at rest tend to stay at rest." It was difficult getting the feet moving again, and the shoes didnt feel right. My right side of my right foot felt like I was running entirely on it. They felt better on day two though. The four miles at 8:00 pushed me for being off so long.
6Miler on Thursday: I did Insanity Pure Cardio in the morning and followed it up with the run later in the evening. My body did NOT want to run, and it took a lot to push through and it wasnt all at the prescribed pace. Getting back into the groove proved to be not easy. And of course fighting the boredom on the treadmill has its own challenges too. Friday though presented another challenge. I awoke very nauseated and empty on strength and energy, pretty much most of the day too. It didnt actually break until around 3pm. I thought my eating was meeting the needs of the newly placed demands, but there are other factors involved as well. December was a very stressful month, and not consuming the right foods etc had a negeative effect on me as well. I mean, really....it was Christmas and New Year. So...I am paying the price.
Angel 13 Today: I managed the half turn-around and it was very interesting to see runners and their different stages of energy levels and capabilities. I finished up at 10:30 and headed back to the start. Using the marathon clock, I departed at 3:10 and ended up with a 2:05:02 by the time I got back to the finish.
My heart rate was doing crazy things even before the start. It actually jumped up to 150 before I even ran, while standing at the line, before I hit the start button. I felt pretty good, actually had to slow myself down a bit before mile 1.55 where Debbie was working. Then around mile 4 I got hit with the sleepies. I mean bad. I havent mentioned this before because I hadnt thought about it, but the sleepies have been something I have been experiencing on the last few runs. I didnt get them in Virginia, but definitely in Valley of Fire, the Vegas marathon, then here today. I fought through them  and they didnt come back, but they were there.
The hills elevated my HR above 180 several times. My pace was not the prescribed 8:20, and there were several times I had to walk, mostly up the hills. My feet hurt and my hip flexors started giving me troubles again too. Lower back muscles were not to happy with either, something I felt on both my treadmill days this week early into the runs. Also, my ankle joints are a bit sore too.
I finished feeling very well with enough energy to be able to speak intelligently with Joyce and others around the area.
I truly feel I am simply paying for the four weeks off. I did a little bit at work as far as exercise goes, but nothing like I needed to do if I wanted to stay in my top-end. I am not worries about it though as my stretching and further muscle work will aid in my strength and conditioning of those muscles that are not happy with me right now. The pace? On the hills today it was simply not going to happen. I did not have enough juice in me. The treadmill days? Had I taken it a bit easier during my Insanity workouts, I would have done better. But I am not going to give up on what really helps me with my abs, core, and muscle tone.
All in all, I think being sponsored has a bit to play in it too. Before it was only me. Now I have other people who have expectations of me too, and if I dont produce results even on my scale, I lose them as supporters. No pressure!
It feels good to be back right now though. Time to push through as best I can with what I have

Two-a-Day

Okay....not REALLY...but I this week I have been hitting it back up with my Insanity workouts, and yes it is appropriately named. Here is a bit of history first: I ran in the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon on 05DEC2010 which was followed by Fitness Week at my unit where I had a couple of decent workouts, including a good spin class at 24Hour Fitness. That last event was mid-December and I havent done a thing since. What I have been doing was eating! And I felt like lost a lot of ground.
Then the Hammer Sponsorship came through and this week I have had to get back the motiviation to workout. So...I committed to running the Angel Half Marathon this weekend and threw down on Insanity. The funny thing is, I talked with my coach I knew he was scheduling me for runs, but the never populated in Training Peaks. Hence the Insanity. I actually was getting worries about him and after a quick email to ask if he was okay, we linked up, got back in tune, and I found out he accidently posted the runs on the wrong week. So....having said all of that, I have two day this week where I am doing an Insanity plus a run. And trust me he is not going light on me. Its like....."oh you decided to eat all of December huh? Well, lets see what all those caliroes did for you, shall we?"
So...this week consisted of the following: Monday: Plyometrics. Tuesday: Cardio Power and Resistance. Wednesday: Cardio Recovery (which really isn't) plus a four mile run @ 8:00min/mile pace. Today: Pure Cardio and later a 6miler @ 8:00.
The end result: Yup! You guessed it. I hurt. In the end though, I have three races this month, followed by three next month, school, and work that will be closing up in three months time. Finally, I am looking at my first 50 happening on 07April. Should be a very busy three months.

My Magnum Year?

I turned 44 yesterday, and for those that remember the days of Dirty Harry,I am going to make this my "magnum" year. I have many races already scheduled including the possibility of a 24-hour and if all goes well, my first Triathlon.
As I begin the new year, I am actually struggling with a decision. 44 years ago I was born, and over the last few months I have been able to secure a lot of information about my natural birth mother. Modern technology has given way for me to gain access to files and documents I wasnt allowed to view a few years ago. Turns out, in the city of El Paso, TX back in 1967 a hospital existed that really wasnt a hospital but was a place where unwed mothers could go and have their babies in a relatively safe environment. Thanks to that hospital, I am here today. Through the State of Texas, I managed to secure my original birth certificate and though there is no father listed, I now have everything regarding my mother, including her address and phone number.
But herein lies the decision. Years ago I reached out to my her and she would have nothing to do with me. In my eyes at the time, I was rejected by her a second time. Now, having done all this work to find out all I know, what am I supposed to do? Should I risk it and face the possibility of a third time? And in the end, I will still be left with the lingering question who is my father.
How does this apply to endurance? Here's a question I have been asked many times. "What do you think about while you're out running?" Here's the deal: When I run a half marathon, I run for two hours. A full marathon is just over four. So, when I am in the middle of a long run whether it be a training run or a race, what do I think about for while running all that time? Now you know. I think a lot about things and events that have happened in my life and thoughts of those events become the predominant motivating factor behind what I do.  My running is as if I am running through my life all over again. Trust me, the majority of my thoughts are good and joyful and I do concentrate on my run, and I have set goals that I simply want to accomlish in life. But what is it that keeps me going? The thought life is very powerful, and I am always faced with thoughts such as I have described. These thoughts remind me of the events in my life in detail that have been nothing less than a tempest for me.
Endurance is simply pushing past the pain, the heartache, the misery and moving on to victory. I may not be first across the line and I havent won a race yet. But everytime I finish a race I win more than a T-shirt and piece of bronze or tin. I win a pittle piece of my life back that many have taken away from me, so that I can turn around and freely give to those that need it more than I.
Mom, thanks for giving me life. I will be talking with you soon.