Who knew I would one day work an Aerosmith quote into a running blog?
But the message rings true, whether it's life or training for a marathon. The race is just one part...the destination...of the journey. It started when I trained for Disney to qualify for Boston. It continued through the last 3 months, through rain and snow and ice. Up hills and along routes that were becoming way too familiar. There were favorite routes and trails and runs of varying distances. There was the constant tug of my right hamstring and the occasional knee, back or foot issue which seemed to resolve themselves. There were days I felt like I could run forever, and days when I could barely get loose.
But ultimately, that's all part of the marathon experience. And if the journey is the true adventure, then I can't be disappointed that I won't get a chance to reach the destination. This past Tuesday will go down as one of the worst days imagineable. It started with the news that my brother in-law's father Jeno had been struck by a car the night before. The day continued to spiral downward from there.
On Monday instead of lining up in Hopkington, I'll be at a funeral in Suffern celebrating his life. For someone who enjoyed the journey so much, his destination came way too soon.
As for me, I'll just have to go out and qualify again. The journey continues...NYC marathon is only 6 months away...
Celebrating my Boston qualifier with Stitch at 2010 Disney Marathon...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
One Week to Go!
At this point, it's become less about the training and more about the logistics. Who's coming next weekend? How are we getting there? What do we do with the kids? How hard will it be to get around the course by the T? Come to think of it, how am I getting to the finish line??? Heh, meant to type "how am I getting to the start line???"...
In any case, tapering continued with a 10 miler on Friday in Sunken Meadow, taking the usual route from the main parking lot, along the boardwalk, then out to Kings Park. Saturday I started putting myself in race mode by volunteering at the Doug Wood race across the street, working with the local scouts to set up a water stop in the middle of the woods.
The next morning I took advantage of the well groomed race course and set out for a quick 5 miler. Unfortunately, due to some time constraints, I had to cut it short by a mile or so. Still I felt quick for this brief run.
This morning, I did not feel quite so quick as I ran the Cow Harbor course. About the best I could come up with was "at least it's not race day." For whatever reason, I felt slow. It took me at least 3 or 4 miles before I started to warm up. Felt OK at the end, but usually at this point in a taper, I feel like I need to hold myself back. I figured I would just chalk it up to the lack of speedwork and not worry about it. Some runs are just like that...
437 miles down, 63 to go...
In any case, tapering continued with a 10 miler on Friday in Sunken Meadow, taking the usual route from the main parking lot, along the boardwalk, then out to Kings Park. Saturday I started putting myself in race mode by volunteering at the Doug Wood race across the street, working with the local scouts to set up a water stop in the middle of the woods.
The next morning I took advantage of the well groomed race course and set out for a quick 5 miler. Unfortunately, due to some time constraints, I had to cut it short by a mile or so. Still I felt quick for this brief run.
This morning, I did not feel quite so quick as I ran the Cow Harbor course. About the best I could come up with was "at least it's not race day." For whatever reason, I felt slow. It took me at least 3 or 4 miles before I started to warm up. Felt OK at the end, but usually at this point in a taper, I feel like I need to hold myself back. I figured I would just chalk it up to the lack of speedwork and not worry about it. Some runs are just like that...
437 miles down, 63 to go...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Taper Time
Feeling pretty good as I started tapering down this week.
I took Monday off which seemed to solve any residual knee issues. And my foot was fine when I woke up, so that luckily has gone away. All things considered, I'd say I'm ready to go.
On Tuesday I set out in a cold drizzle for a Cow Harbor loop. Saw Kathy Martin out on the road as I was coming down Norwood to Waterside. I thought about running over to say hello, but 50 yards later she was 100 yards ahead of me. Not a chance I was going to catch her during a tempo run. I did get a chance to say high as she turned around on Waterside, barely out of breath. The rest of the run was routine. Wet, but routine.
On Wednesday I met up with Larry to do a loop through Makamah Woods. As usual I was a step behind, but kept up a good pace. We added a trip down and back to the beach along Makamah Road. This run made me realize just how much I missed doing faster runs over the past few months. I'm content to taking my time at Boston and not worrying about pace or finish. I'll figure out how to deal with my hamstring once and for all after the race. But still I finished this run wondering if maybe I do care about my time??? I know I was happy to learn I was in the 1st corral, which means a good start and opportunity to run fast. And this is my one shot at Boston. Well, maybe I'll decide that day...
416 miles down, 84 to go...
I took Monday off which seemed to solve any residual knee issues. And my foot was fine when I woke up, so that luckily has gone away. All things considered, I'd say I'm ready to go.
On Tuesday I set out in a cold drizzle for a Cow Harbor loop. Saw Kathy Martin out on the road as I was coming down Norwood to Waterside. I thought about running over to say hello, but 50 yards later she was 100 yards ahead of me. Not a chance I was going to catch her during a tempo run. I did get a chance to say high as she turned around on Waterside, barely out of breath. The rest of the run was routine. Wet, but routine.
On Wednesday I met up with Larry to do a loop through Makamah Woods. As usual I was a step behind, but kept up a good pace. We added a trip down and back to the beach along Makamah Road. This run made me realize just how much I missed doing faster runs over the past few months. I'm content to taking my time at Boston and not worrying about pace or finish. I'll figure out how to deal with my hamstring once and for all after the race. But still I finished this run wondering if maybe I do care about my time??? I know I was happy to learn I was in the 1st corral, which means a good start and opportunity to run fast. And this is my one shot at Boston. Well, maybe I'll decide that day...
416 miles down, 84 to go...
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Two Weeks to Go...
Two weeks to go, and like most times at this point in marathon training, I feel like I'm held together with baling wire and duct tape in a desparate race to get my trining in before my body falls apart. If I can get to the two week to go taper point injury free, well, that's half the battle. This year I came up one week short.
Two weeks ago went as planned. I knocked off a 9 miler around the Cow Harbor course and down to Crab Meadow Beach. I took the next day, Thursday, off and got geared up for the weekend.
On Friday I set off for my first 13 miler of the weekend. Headed to Sunken Meadow, parking out at the golf course for a change of pace. Funny how different it feels when you change the start point. Did an out and back to Kings Park and felt good.
On Saturday, I met up with Rick at Connetequot for 13 miler #2. Went out past the pine forest, almost all the way to Hecksher Park before turning around and coming back. Once again, feeling good.
On Sunday, I was on my own for 13 miler #3, back on the familiar paths of Eisenhower prior to a swim meet. Dropped James off for JOs, leaving me with a solid 3 hour block before he would race. Did four of my usual loops around the park. Started slow, legs were a bit tight, but picked it up as I warmed up. Felt great afterwards. I started planning my runs for the week, setting up some big miles before I would taper. My 500 mile goal was in sight.
Later that night, as I was standing in Julia's room saying goodnight, I took a step and felt a sharp "twang" in my knee. That's it. Wasn't jumping, fooling around, playing basketball, or rescuing a box of kittens from a burning building. I was just standing there. Bring on the ice and Advil...
Over the next few days I walked around tentatively, afraid of doing more damage. The only time I really felt it was going up and down the steps. I resisted the "temptation" of seeing what would happen if I ran. By Wednesday I thought it might finally be going away, but a few trips up the stairs ended that dream. On Thursday, it felt reasonably good, so I set up an easy run Friday with Larry.
Running with Larry was always my "faster" run of the week. It's been awhile since we've run together but as usual, I found myself working to keep up with him. Not only was it a good test of my knee, but it was a good reminder that my right hamstring was still bugging me. Cue the duct tape and baling wire...
We kept it short, 4 miles down to Crab Meadow and back. My knee was achy all over but not altogether unusable. I gave it a good icing down and took Saturday off to make sure not to do more damage. Now is really not the time I wanted to go AWOL on training, but I didn't have much of a choice.
Today I met up with Rick in Sunken Meadow for 10 miles. After wandering around aimlessly trying to find each other we headed out to Kings Park to explore the old Psych Center. This place gives me the heebie-jeebies...well, it would if I was there at night. There would be no doubt it was haunted and Jack Nicholson would probably be chasing me through the maze of buildings shouting "Here's Johnny!".
We followed along the Cyclocross trail that Rick had raced on last fall, taking the occasional detour to explore a path or run by an abandoned building. We ran back to Sunken Meadow, adding an extra stretch along the moat path to make sure we hit 10. Knee was reasonably good, so I think that's not going to be an issue. With two weeks to go, I normally wouldn't run back to back days anyway as I tapered. Knee should be fine by race day.
Later this morning I knelt on the floor to read the paper. As I stood up I couldn't put any weight on my left foot. Yep, foot. Somehow the position I was kneeling in, as I have so many times before without incident, screwed up something in my foot. Right across the top it felt like someone whacked it with a 2 x 4. I masaged it a bit and was eventually able to walk on it. But c'mon...really? Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Time for another handful of Advil...
403 miles down, 97 to go...
Two weeks ago went as planned. I knocked off a 9 miler around the Cow Harbor course and down to Crab Meadow Beach. I took the next day, Thursday, off and got geared up for the weekend.
On Friday I set off for my first 13 miler of the weekend. Headed to Sunken Meadow, parking out at the golf course for a change of pace. Funny how different it feels when you change the start point. Did an out and back to Kings Park and felt good.
On Saturday, I met up with Rick at Connetequot for 13 miler #2. Went out past the pine forest, almost all the way to Hecksher Park before turning around and coming back. Once again, feeling good.
On Sunday, I was on my own for 13 miler #3, back on the familiar paths of Eisenhower prior to a swim meet. Dropped James off for JOs, leaving me with a solid 3 hour block before he would race. Did four of my usual loops around the park. Started slow, legs were a bit tight, but picked it up as I warmed up. Felt great afterwards. I started planning my runs for the week, setting up some big miles before I would taper. My 500 mile goal was in sight.
Later that night, as I was standing in Julia's room saying goodnight, I took a step and felt a sharp "twang" in my knee. That's it. Wasn't jumping, fooling around, playing basketball, or rescuing a box of kittens from a burning building. I was just standing there. Bring on the ice and Advil...
Over the next few days I walked around tentatively, afraid of doing more damage. The only time I really felt it was going up and down the steps. I resisted the "temptation" of seeing what would happen if I ran. By Wednesday I thought it might finally be going away, but a few trips up the stairs ended that dream. On Thursday, it felt reasonably good, so I set up an easy run Friday with Larry.
Running with Larry was always my "faster" run of the week. It's been awhile since we've run together but as usual, I found myself working to keep up with him. Not only was it a good test of my knee, but it was a good reminder that my right hamstring was still bugging me. Cue the duct tape and baling wire...
We kept it short, 4 miles down to Crab Meadow and back. My knee was achy all over but not altogether unusable. I gave it a good icing down and took Saturday off to make sure not to do more damage. Now is really not the time I wanted to go AWOL on training, but I didn't have much of a choice.
Today I met up with Rick in Sunken Meadow for 10 miles. After wandering around aimlessly trying to find each other we headed out to Kings Park to explore the old Psych Center. This place gives me the heebie-jeebies...well, it would if I was there at night. There would be no doubt it was haunted and Jack Nicholson would probably be chasing me through the maze of buildings shouting "Here's Johnny!".
We followed along the Cyclocross trail that Rick had raced on last fall, taking the occasional detour to explore a path or run by an abandoned building. We ran back to Sunken Meadow, adding an extra stretch along the moat path to make sure we hit 10. Knee was reasonably good, so I think that's not going to be an issue. With two weeks to go, I normally wouldn't run back to back days anyway as I tapered. Knee should be fine by race day.
Later this morning I knelt on the floor to read the paper. As I stood up I couldn't put any weight on my left foot. Yep, foot. Somehow the position I was kneeling in, as I have so many times before without incident, screwed up something in my foot. Right across the top it felt like someone whacked it with a 2 x 4. I masaged it a bit and was eventually able to walk on it. But c'mon...really? Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Time for another handful of Advil...
403 miles down, 97 to go...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)