I'm having a great day off today. Did a 10-mile run this morning. Then went and did a "double-red" blood donation. Came home and have been reading and listening to music. I always am really sluggish after doing that donation. If you're not familiar with it, a double red donation is just what it sounds like. A double quantity of red blood cells. In a typical donation, they hook you up to a bag and take a pint of blood. For double red, they hook you up to a machine which takes out blood, centrifuges out the red cells, and replaces the plasma. They take 2 units worth of red cells. That's tough on any athletic activity.
Once this summer, I did a donation without considering the impact on my running. When I went out two days later I could do absolutely nothing. (It was a little embarrassing, because I went to Austin for an REI conference and was excited to run with my colleagues. Then I totally pooped after a VERY short distance.) It wasn't till about 3 days later when I was talking to someone back in Dallas that I made the connection that I'd been so weak because of donating blood. Stupid me. One insight from that experience: if the negative impact of losing red cells is proportional to a positive impact from gaining red cells, I can see why cyclists and other endurance athletes are willing to risk a lot to do blood transfusions or take EPO. It's an ENORMOUS impact. Not just a marginal difference.
(I'm still listening to holiday music. Vince Guaraldi on Pandora right now. Does that make me goofy?)
I think tonight I'll just sit here and eat and watch TV. Actually not TV, but a DVD. Probably James Bond. Gotta love James Bond. Exciting macho misogyny. Lots of cool gadgets and explosions. Happy ending and escape from the humdrum, though, is what I mostly crave. And it's not really that misogynistic, is it? Pretty healthy dinner, too. George Foreman chicken and baked sweet potato. Maybe (actually, definitely) followed by a dessert of a handful of dark chocolate M&Ms and a bowl of Cinnamon Life cereal. Totally decadent! (I'll probably also have a grapefruit.) I know all of you out there in blogland wish you could be here with me for this night of hedonism.
Had a great day last Thursday. Had lunch with my friend Jennifer, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, along with Jane (English instructor at Richland), whom I hadn't seen in about as long, even though she's there on campus, and Elisabeth (Jennifer's daughter) and David (Elisabeth's boyfriend) (they (E&D) were in town from California for the holidays). Went to Cosmic Cafe, one of my fave places. Had great fun conversation. Liked David.
(Switched to Early Blues. Charlie Patton on now. Hard to imagine a more pronounced contrast. Going from easy listening christmas music to raw scratchy old blues.)
Anyway, gonna go eat, watch movie and ice the knee. (Did I mention that I've kinda hurted the left knee?)
Later....
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Oh, well...
Sorry about the dorm-room philosophy last night. I don't know what gets into me sometimes. I guess there are times when I just don't know when to shut up.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Happy Merry Christmas to all
It's been a good day. I was actually able to spend a few minutes with Pierce this morning, which happens infrequently enough, with our work schedules.
Then went for a run. Did a full loop. Included the bit over the dam, and it turned out to be 9.3 miles. It's fun to be able to go out and do that. Plus, the Forerunner estimates that I burned over 1400 calories on the run. There's certainly something to be said for that. Not crowded, and everyone was smiling and waving and enjoying themselves. Perhaps a new tradition.....
Then ate and watched a movie with Chad and Tara. So it was a very pleasant peaceful day for me.
I'm thankful that in a world full of misery I'm able to have a day like today. As I was running today I spent some time thinking about that, and how or why it happened that I'm here having a wonderful day and so many millions are not. Obviously, I was not able to answer that question. Does the concept of "thankful" necessarily imply someone or something to be thankful to? It seems somehow like it does, though perhaps not. I have to admit that I felt some guilt. What did I do to deserve all the wonderful things in my life? But guilt is not productive. I arrived at nothing much. Why are any of us here? What are our responsibilities to the world? To other people? Is it conceivable that Eastern religious ideas about Karma are "real?" If so, does that mean I've "earned" the life I've got?
(Gabriel's Oboe again on Pandora. There is much beauty in the world. Music. Laughter. Trees. Love. Friends. Solitude. Art. Companionship. So much beauty.... In the midst of my inability to understand why I've managed to experience so much of it.)
What about Presbyterians and predestination? That's a sort of karmic construct, isn't it? And why do these questions still present themselves to me as religious, when I've abandoned religion? Because religion provides a familiar context for contemplation of "The Big Questions?" Or because I'm inextricably tied by my personal history to a particular way of seeing? (I believe that is unfortunately the case in other areas of my life.....)
I suppose these are philosophical questions that are just beyond my meager ability to grok. What I **think** I think is that it's all basically the luck of the draw. There's no plan. No before and after. No cosmic expectation. There's just you and me and all of us, and we all have to make the best of what we've got. (I know, "best" can mean most anything.) Somehow if more of us would spend more effort in pursuits other than those intended to acquire more at the expense of others, the world would be a better place. On the other hand, it's the pursuit of more that has provided the impetus for much of the progress that has led to our ability to enjoy leisure (for those of us like me who are lucky enough to live in a place where leisure is a possibility). (And that's exactly the problem. Every question, every idea, every thought has multiple "sides." Does "Truth" exist?)
I should not write stuff like this when I know I'm not going to go back and rethink and reorganize and edit. I imagine when I come back and read what I've just written it will sound like just a bunch of blather. And none of it original. Sorry to anyone who tries to read it.
In the end, for tonight anyway, I hope you all had a good peaceful day in which you were able to experience beauty. Something like Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men (or Goodwill to Everyone, but that's not how I learned it!) ;-)
Then went for a run. Did a full loop. Included the bit over the dam, and it turned out to be 9.3 miles. It's fun to be able to go out and do that. Plus, the Forerunner estimates that I burned over 1400 calories on the run. There's certainly something to be said for that. Not crowded, and everyone was smiling and waving and enjoying themselves. Perhaps a new tradition.....
Then ate and watched a movie with Chad and Tara. So it was a very pleasant peaceful day for me.
I'm thankful that in a world full of misery I'm able to have a day like today. As I was running today I spent some time thinking about that, and how or why it happened that I'm here having a wonderful day and so many millions are not. Obviously, I was not able to answer that question. Does the concept of "thankful" necessarily imply someone or something to be thankful to? It seems somehow like it does, though perhaps not. I have to admit that I felt some guilt. What did I do to deserve all the wonderful things in my life? But guilt is not productive. I arrived at nothing much. Why are any of us here? What are our responsibilities to the world? To other people? Is it conceivable that Eastern religious ideas about Karma are "real?" If so, does that mean I've "earned" the life I've got?
(Gabriel's Oboe again on Pandora. There is much beauty in the world. Music. Laughter. Trees. Love. Friends. Solitude. Art. Companionship. So much beauty.... In the midst of my inability to understand why I've managed to experience so much of it.)
What about Presbyterians and predestination? That's a sort of karmic construct, isn't it? And why do these questions still present themselves to me as religious, when I've abandoned religion? Because religion provides a familiar context for contemplation of "The Big Questions?" Or because I'm inextricably tied by my personal history to a particular way of seeing? (I believe that is unfortunately the case in other areas of my life.....)
I suppose these are philosophical questions that are just beyond my meager ability to grok. What I **think** I think is that it's all basically the luck of the draw. There's no plan. No before and after. No cosmic expectation. There's just you and me and all of us, and we all have to make the best of what we've got. (I know, "best" can mean most anything.) Somehow if more of us would spend more effort in pursuits other than those intended to acquire more at the expense of others, the world would be a better place. On the other hand, it's the pursuit of more that has provided the impetus for much of the progress that has led to our ability to enjoy leisure (for those of us like me who are lucky enough to live in a place where leisure is a possibility). (And that's exactly the problem. Every question, every idea, every thought has multiple "sides." Does "Truth" exist?)
I should not write stuff like this when I know I'm not going to go back and rethink and reorganize and edit. I imagine when I come back and read what I've just written it will sound like just a bunch of blather. And none of it original. Sorry to anyone who tries to read it.
In the end, for tonight anyway, I hope you all had a good peaceful day in which you were able to experience beauty. Something like Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men (or Goodwill to Everyone, but that's not how I learned it!) ;-)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Another marathon today!
Well, a marathon, but not really. Twenty miles of the marathon were on my bike and six running.
I hadn't been on the bike in about 2 months. I really missed it. So to celebrate my day off today, I did a brick. For those of you not "in the know," a "brick" is an exercise routine during which you both bike and run. (Or, I suppose, do at least two of swim, bike and run.) It's obviously meant as preparation for a triathlon or duathlon. I did lots of bricks this summer when I was preparing for those duathlons I did.
(The Chieftains on Pandora. What's that guy's name? The frontman? Paddy McSomething?)
On another topic, it turned out to be a bad semester, grade-wise. Grades were lower than I've ever seen them. I don't know why. I don't think I did anything different.
Actually, when I think about it, one of my classes was about average.
Another was a "Learning Community" made up of all high school students. They were -- with 3 or 4 exceptions, woefully unprepared. Worse than most classes, and far worse than the high school classes I've taught actually on a high school campus. On the high school campus, apparently they just let the top students take the class. So those kids are smarter (or better prepared, or both) than the average freshman or sophomore. The RCHS (Richland Collegiate High School) is, I assume, open enrollment, because some of these kids were definitely **not** from the top of their class.
The third class was worse than usual. Six stopped coming after about the third class meeting and never came back and never dropped. So that's 6 Fs off the top. I don't know why they do that. I guess it's some sort of financial aid scheme, but I've never tried to figure out how it works.
Anyway, I'm tired and it's almost 10:00. I'm going beddy-bye.
Later...
I hadn't been on the bike in about 2 months. I really missed it. So to celebrate my day off today, I did a brick. For those of you not "in the know," a "brick" is an exercise routine during which you both bike and run. (Or, I suppose, do at least two of swim, bike and run.) It's obviously meant as preparation for a triathlon or duathlon. I did lots of bricks this summer when I was preparing for those duathlons I did.
(The Chieftains on Pandora. What's that guy's name? The frontman? Paddy McSomething?)
On another topic, it turned out to be a bad semester, grade-wise. Grades were lower than I've ever seen them. I don't know why. I don't think I did anything different.
Actually, when I think about it, one of my classes was about average.
Another was a "Learning Community" made up of all high school students. They were -- with 3 or 4 exceptions, woefully unprepared. Worse than most classes, and far worse than the high school classes I've taught actually on a high school campus. On the high school campus, apparently they just let the top students take the class. So those kids are smarter (or better prepared, or both) than the average freshman or sophomore. The RCHS (Richland Collegiate High School) is, I assume, open enrollment, because some of these kids were definitely **not** from the top of their class.
The third class was worse than usual. Six stopped coming after about the third class meeting and never came back and never dropped. So that's 6 Fs off the top. I don't know why they do that. I guess it's some sort of financial aid scheme, but I've never tried to figure out how it works.
Anyway, I'm tired and it's almost 10:00. I'm going beddy-bye.
Later...
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tempting potential life change?
A regular REI customer -- I've seen her probably 5 times in the last 3 years and we've exchanged e-mails a few times (typically my looking at photo albums she's posted) -- was in the store again yesterday.
(Sorry for the interruption, but "Gabriel's Oboe" was just on Pandora. From The Mission soundtrack, by Ennio Morricone. One of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. Chill-inducing. Do a YouTube search for Gabriel's Oboe. (I know I should figure out how to insert links here. Sorry.))
She's a guide with Backroads. She leads bike tours all over the world, and was leaving yesterday afternoon for New Zealand (just in REI to pick up a few things before leaving).
She's suggested before that I should consider coming to work for Backroads as a guide. She brought it up again. This time with a slight difference. She's spending a month or so in New Zealand and then a couple of months in Vietnam and Cambodia. Then a few days back in Dallas to visit the parents, and then heading to San Francisco (apparently that's the HQ) where she is going to be managing hiring and training for the company. So, the chief of hiring tells me just to call and in short order I can be leading bike tours in Tuscany or "heli-hiking" tours in the Canadian Rockies. Then she says once I've become established as a guide I can essentially write my own schedule -- like, for example, teach fall and spring and then guide during the summer in China or Bali or Tibet or.... pretty much anywhere. Or give up teaching altogether.
So, here I am. Unattached. No potential attachments that I know of, and no one who's going to be especially distraught if I'm gone (except REI managers, perhaps)(and yes, I know there are some few who'd miss me in my absence -- to a certain extent). No debt. No particular reason I NEED to be any particular place. No particular career to speak of. All I'd need to do is get rid of whatever crap I've accumulated, buy a laptop and an iPod, and hit the road! What's wrong with that picture? Travel, "customer service", cycling and hiking, a simpler life -- unencumbered by many possessions. I'm having a hard time coming up with a significant downside. But then I may be blocking out a raft of reasons not to take a leap into the unknown. I wouldn't get rich. But then that's never been my raison d'etre.
I've got a few months to cogitate. But I'd be a fool not to seriously consider it.
(Sorry for the interruption, but "Gabriel's Oboe" was just on Pandora. From The Mission soundtrack, by Ennio Morricone. One of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. Chill-inducing. Do a YouTube search for Gabriel's Oboe. (I know I should figure out how to insert links here. Sorry.))
She's a guide with Backroads. She leads bike tours all over the world, and was leaving yesterday afternoon for New Zealand (just in REI to pick up a few things before leaving).
She's suggested before that I should consider coming to work for Backroads as a guide. She brought it up again. This time with a slight difference. She's spending a month or so in New Zealand and then a couple of months in Vietnam and Cambodia. Then a few days back in Dallas to visit the parents, and then heading to San Francisco (apparently that's the HQ) where she is going to be managing hiring and training for the company. So, the chief of hiring tells me just to call and in short order I can be leading bike tours in Tuscany or "heli-hiking" tours in the Canadian Rockies. Then she says once I've become established as a guide I can essentially write my own schedule -- like, for example, teach fall and spring and then guide during the summer in China or Bali or Tibet or.... pretty much anywhere. Or give up teaching altogether.
So, here I am. Unattached. No potential attachments that I know of, and no one who's going to be especially distraught if I'm gone (except REI managers, perhaps)(and yes, I know there are some few who'd miss me in my absence -- to a certain extent). No debt. No particular reason I NEED to be any particular place. No particular career to speak of. All I'd need to do is get rid of whatever crap I've accumulated, buy a laptop and an iPod, and hit the road! What's wrong with that picture? Travel, "customer service", cycling and hiking, a simpler life -- unencumbered by many possessions. I'm having a hard time coming up with a significant downside. But then I may be blocking out a raft of reasons not to take a leap into the unknown. I wouldn't get rich. But then that's never been my raison d'etre.
I've got a few months to cogitate. But I'd be a fool not to seriously consider it.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
On the road again
First run today since the marathon. It went well, for the most part. Went about 8.5 miles at mostly a slower pace than usual, because I was with a small DRC group who are a little slower. (That's a good thing. I wanted to go just the speed we went, but I typically don't have the discipline to go that speed.) Had what seemed to me to be a funny comment made about me at breakfast. (Went to Barbec's after the run with a couple of folks (had my usual: 2 soft-poached eggs, grits, bacon and dry wheat toast). Any of you out there who may plan to cook breakfast for me in the future now have my order! Unless I just have cereal, of course (always skim milk)). (I have no idea where that period should have gone. Too many parentheses.)
One of the women at breakfast was very impressed with my marathon time when she heard that I've just been running since April. She said "You must be genetically gifted." Seemed dramatic to me, but most of the DRC people I talk to seem pretty impressed with that time. Perhaps it's less common than I thought for a new runner to go 4:14. It doesn't seem particularly fast to me, though I was very pleased with that time, but I don't really have much of a basis of comparison.
Now that I think of it, though, it does seem like most of the people I was hanging with on the group runs -- and most of those I was ahead of -- have been running for years, so perhaps that is a basis of comparison.
Whether or not it's a valid comparison is actually immaterial, though, because the only real competition I'm thinking about is with myself. I just want to be healthy and have a good time. So I'm not going to get caught up (I'm really not!) with comparing myself to other folks.
(Jimmie Rodgers yodeling. Gotta love it....)
Picked up Chad's three dogs today from the kennel. They (Chad and Tara) are in Michigan for a couple of days and needed someone to get the dogs before tomorrow. Having those 3 hounds in my car left lots of hair and a significant aroma. Sometimes I think I want a dog. And sometimes I'm sure I don't. I think I like dogs these days the way I like babies: when they belong to other people! The car's been needing a good cleaning anyway, though, so perhaps I'll just take this as a sign that I've procrastinated too long. I think I'll take it to one of those places where they wash your car for you, though. Doing it myself sounds like too much effort. How lazy or decadent or whatever is that?
(Wind is REALLY blowing hard outside. Glad I did that run early today.)
Oh, well.... Need to finish with grades. Have to turn them in on Monday and I don't have it all done yet. Mostly, but not completely. End of the semester is such a hassle.
Oh... Forgot one thing. Someone at breakfast was talking (my teaching came up in conversation) about Amberton (I think that's what it was) University. Some kind of mostly online college. They were saying it's easier to get hired full-time there and that the pay is good. I'll have to look into that. It's here in Dallas. Sounds kinda sketch, though. Maybe like an upper division trade school kind of thing. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out, though, I suppose.
(Hank Williams now. Classic....)
Later...
One of the women at breakfast was very impressed with my marathon time when she heard that I've just been running since April. She said "You must be genetically gifted." Seemed dramatic to me, but most of the DRC people I talk to seem pretty impressed with that time. Perhaps it's less common than I thought for a new runner to go 4:14. It doesn't seem particularly fast to me, though I was very pleased with that time, but I don't really have much of a basis of comparison.
Now that I think of it, though, it does seem like most of the people I was hanging with on the group runs -- and most of those I was ahead of -- have been running for years, so perhaps that is a basis of comparison.
Whether or not it's a valid comparison is actually immaterial, though, because the only real competition I'm thinking about is with myself. I just want to be healthy and have a good time. So I'm not going to get caught up (I'm really not!) with comparing myself to other folks.
(Jimmie Rodgers yodeling. Gotta love it....)
Picked up Chad's three dogs today from the kennel. They (Chad and Tara) are in Michigan for a couple of days and needed someone to get the dogs before tomorrow. Having those 3 hounds in my car left lots of hair and a significant aroma. Sometimes I think I want a dog. And sometimes I'm sure I don't. I think I like dogs these days the way I like babies: when they belong to other people! The car's been needing a good cleaning anyway, though, so perhaps I'll just take this as a sign that I've procrastinated too long. I think I'll take it to one of those places where they wash your car for you, though. Doing it myself sounds like too much effort. How lazy or decadent or whatever is that?
(Wind is REALLY blowing hard outside. Glad I did that run early today.)
Oh, well.... Need to finish with grades. Have to turn them in on Monday and I don't have it all done yet. Mostly, but not completely. End of the semester is such a hassle.
Oh... Forgot one thing. Someone at breakfast was talking (my teaching came up in conversation) about Amberton (I think that's what it was) University. Some kind of mostly online college. They were saying it's easier to get hired full-time there and that the pay is good. I'll have to look into that. It's here in Dallas. Sounds kinda sketch, though. Maybe like an upper division trade school kind of thing. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out, though, I suppose.
(Hank Williams now. Classic....)
Later...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
I'm pretty excited
Back in late October -- I think it was the weekend before "The Half" -- I went with several REI folks on a camping trip to Arkansas, where we did the "Eagle Rock Loop" again. I've done that hike several times. It's a fun and challenging walk. According to the book, it's the longest loop hike in Arkansas. Not a surprise, because it's about 27 miles. When we've done it before, it's always been as a 3-day hike. That's about how I like to do things -- not planning too much distance any day.
This time was different. We went up on Friday, camped at Albert Pike that night, got up a couple of hours before daybreak on Saturday and hiked the whole thing in one day. It was a pretty hard day. Fun, though. We called it the "Eagle Rock Marathon." So actually last Sunday was not my first marathon. It was my first running marathon.
Anyway, on Saturday night after the hike and after dinner and a couple of beers, everyone was feeling pretty mellow. I was walking down the road to the little general's room (we were back at Albert Pike Recreation Area, where they have real bathrooms and showers) and there was this oldish guy sitting alone in his campsite playing the banjo. I stopped to listen. Soon John walked up (I was just standing there in the road), and we walked over and sat down -- having asked if he minded, of course -- to listen for a while. He was a pretty cool old guy, and a great banjo player. He was very rural, as you might expect. It was almost a little spooky when he played Dueling Banjos. He played and we chatted and of course he knew and played every bluegrass tune I could remember the name of. When the evening broke up I asked him if I could send him a blank CD on which he could record his CD (it had been established that he had recorded a couple of CDs) for me. He said he had blanks and just took my address.
Well, today I went to work at REI and what was there but 3 CDs!! Will (that was his name) had sent 3 CDs, wrapped in toilet tissue, with a very nice note in a Christmas card apologizing for its having taken so long to send them. Very excited! It's now after 10:30 and I'm sitting here listening. Really fun. Very unpolished. Completely authentic.
Gotta sleep now, though. I think after "Old Country Church" I'm gonna turn it off for the night. Hope to get grades submitted tomorrow. Probably won't happen till Monday, though. Got one student taking his final in the Testing Center tomorrow.
Later....
This time was different. We went up on Friday, camped at Albert Pike that night, got up a couple of hours before daybreak on Saturday and hiked the whole thing in one day. It was a pretty hard day. Fun, though. We called it the "Eagle Rock Marathon." So actually last Sunday was not my first marathon. It was my first running marathon.
Anyway, on Saturday night after the hike and after dinner and a couple of beers, everyone was feeling pretty mellow. I was walking down the road to the little general's room (we were back at Albert Pike Recreation Area, where they have real bathrooms and showers) and there was this oldish guy sitting alone in his campsite playing the banjo. I stopped to listen. Soon John walked up (I was just standing there in the road), and we walked over and sat down -- having asked if he minded, of course -- to listen for a while. He was a pretty cool old guy, and a great banjo player. He was very rural, as you might expect. It was almost a little spooky when he played Dueling Banjos. He played and we chatted and of course he knew and played every bluegrass tune I could remember the name of. When the evening broke up I asked him if I could send him a blank CD on which he could record his CD (it had been established that he had recorded a couple of CDs) for me. He said he had blanks and just took my address.
Well, today I went to work at REI and what was there but 3 CDs!! Will (that was his name) had sent 3 CDs, wrapped in toilet tissue, with a very nice note in a Christmas card apologizing for its having taken so long to send them. Very excited! It's now after 10:30 and I'm sitting here listening. Really fun. Very unpolished. Completely authentic.
Gotta sleep now, though. I think after "Old Country Church" I'm gonna turn it off for the night. Hope to get grades submitted tomorrow. Probably won't happen till Monday, though. Got one student taking his final in the Testing Center tomorrow.
Later....
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
OK, OK, OK, I think I'm over myself now...
OK. I've done it now. The marathon's done. And now when I read back, particularly over some of those last few posts, I am a bit embarrassed. They sound pretty smug. Pretty self-satisfied.
One might even say pretty self-absorbed. I'm sorry. I'll pretend it's an excuse that I was trying to psych myself up for something I wasn't sure I could even do. Now I can drop it. I promise I'll try not to adopt that attitude or tone or whatever it was again. Not flattering. If I do start training for a triathlon, I'll try to be careful to avoid that attitude.
I'm doing better walking now. But it's still sort of hard walking up stairs, and even harder walking down. I was never even close to this sore after any of my training runs. I guess I just never did as much before. The funny thing is I really feel like I want to go for a run. How weird is that? It seems weird to me, anyway. I can barely walk, and it's raining and in the upper 30s, and what I want to do is go for a run. Not long or hard, but something at least to get the legs loosened up and the blood flowing. Several experienced people have, however, recommended that I not do that, for a few reasons that may or may not be good. I don't know. But I'm going to stay inside for now. Maybe I'll go for a bike ride tomorrow night. I've really neglected the bike in the last couple of months. Time to fix that.
Anyway, what I DO need to do now is finish the semester. I've got one more final to give in the morning and then have to get everything graded and turned in, and it will be done. A few weeks without classes will be welcomed.
Next semester I'll have three 2302 classes on MWF, starting at 7 a.m. (one is an LGI, as I guess I've said before, now that I've repeated myself) That's pretty early, but it shouldn't bother me. I wonder if I'll be able to enforce my normal 5 minute tardy limit. That does seem kind of rigid, doesn't it? I like it because it reduces interruptions. I really don't deal very well with interruptions. In many ways I think I'm good in the classroom. But I have trouble with some things. For example, it drives me NUTS!!! when I catch a student texting during class. Some instructors I know don't even notice it. Or they at least pretend not to. I have tried to ignore it, but I just can't let it go. Somehow I feel like it's simple immaturity on my part that I let it bother me, or even object to it at all. I know people who are able simply to focus on what they're doing to the point that they don't notice "trivial" things (things that probably have no value to them) going on around them. I've always admired that, never having been able to do it myself. It makes them seem more mature and confident and in charge of themselves and... whatever. Some people can apparently sit at a desk or a computer and not even hear conversations happening just a few feet away from them. Not me. In the classroom I'm tuned in every time students whisper to each other in the back row. That's not a good thing.
Anyway, I need to stop. I'm not even ready for my final tomorrow.
Don't you love Dwight McCall? (more bluegrass, but more contemporary than Ralph or Bill)
Later...
One might even say pretty self-absorbed. I'm sorry. I'll pretend it's an excuse that I was trying to psych myself up for something I wasn't sure I could even do. Now I can drop it. I promise I'll try not to adopt that attitude or tone or whatever it was again. Not flattering. If I do start training for a triathlon, I'll try to be careful to avoid that attitude.
I'm doing better walking now. But it's still sort of hard walking up stairs, and even harder walking down. I was never even close to this sore after any of my training runs. I guess I just never did as much before. The funny thing is I really feel like I want to go for a run. How weird is that? It seems weird to me, anyway. I can barely walk, and it's raining and in the upper 30s, and what I want to do is go for a run. Not long or hard, but something at least to get the legs loosened up and the blood flowing. Several experienced people have, however, recommended that I not do that, for a few reasons that may or may not be good. I don't know. But I'm going to stay inside for now. Maybe I'll go for a bike ride tomorrow night. I've really neglected the bike in the last couple of months. Time to fix that.
Anyway, what I DO need to do now is finish the semester. I've got one more final to give in the morning and then have to get everything graded and turned in, and it will be done. A few weeks without classes will be welcomed.
Next semester I'll have three 2302 classes on MWF, starting at 7 a.m. (one is an LGI, as I guess I've said before, now that I've repeated myself) That's pretty early, but it shouldn't bother me. I wonder if I'll be able to enforce my normal 5 minute tardy limit. That does seem kind of rigid, doesn't it? I like it because it reduces interruptions. I really don't deal very well with interruptions. In many ways I think I'm good in the classroom. But I have trouble with some things. For example, it drives me NUTS!!! when I catch a student texting during class. Some instructors I know don't even notice it. Or they at least pretend not to. I have tried to ignore it, but I just can't let it go. Somehow I feel like it's simple immaturity on my part that I let it bother me, or even object to it at all. I know people who are able simply to focus on what they're doing to the point that they don't notice "trivial" things (things that probably have no value to them) going on around them. I've always admired that, never having been able to do it myself. It makes them seem more mature and confident and in charge of themselves and... whatever. Some people can apparently sit at a desk or a computer and not even hear conversations happening just a few feet away from them. Not me. In the classroom I'm tuned in every time students whisper to each other in the back row. That's not a good thing.
Anyway, I need to stop. I'm not even ready for my final tomorrow.
Don't you love Dwight McCall? (more bluegrass, but more contemporary than Ralph or Bill)
Later...
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Done!
I finished. And I finished in a good time. 4:14:35 (The original e-mail I got said 4:14:34, but I'll give them that second). It was amazing. Incredibly difficult. Made so in part because of my determination to have a good time. Also in part because it was 26.2 miles, of course, and that's a pretty long way to run. The whole experience was awesome. The crowd at the start. The cheering spectators. The hundreds of volunteers at water stops. The runners. The physical sensations along the way. The mental gymnastics associated with staying focused on what you're doing. Trying to stay hydrated and fueled while running. Trying to remember to try to remember what was going on so that I can go back and enjoy it in memory.
One of the most important elements of the day was my having hooked up with a Clif Bar Pace Group. Clif Bar sells energy bars and gels and drinks. I've both eaten and sold (at REI) a ton of the stuff. They have a program through which they send experienced marathoners to selected races to lead pace groups. At the start, in the crowd of thousands of people, one could see groups of balloons beside signs declaring different finishing times: 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, etc. After a lot of thought, I got with the 4:15 group, led by Star (her name is Starshine Blackford). That was probably the best decision I made in the whole marathon experience, other than training for it in the first place. Only because of her was I able to maintain a consistent pace and finish when I did. She provided encouragement, information, distraction, consistency, motivation, and did it all while running a marathon carrying a stick with 4 big balloons on top of it the whole way.
One example: a regular REI customer who ran the marathon and with whom I had compared notes while training was sure he'd finish faster than me. Based on what he said his training times were, I was sure he would as well. But he didn't get with a pace group and went out way too fast. (It's INCREDIBLY hard to hold the pace down at the beginning. I've said in this blog before that I seemed for some reason physically incapable of running slowly on my own.) For the first 5 miles, David was way ahead of me. He slowed a little in the second segment, but at the half he was still a good ways ahead of me. But he caved in, because he started too fast, and ultimately finished over a half hour behind me. I'm pretty confident (assuming he was accurately reporting training times) that if he'd gotten with the 4:00 pace group he would have finished with them. It's so important to pace appropriately.
Star was running her... wait for it... 96th marathon! 96. That's a lot. It's not that impressive, necessarily, I suppose. It's just what she does. Lots of people do a lot of whatever they do. I have friends who have been published a lot in newspapers. What it does mean, though, is that she has learned how to maintain a pace to finish at a specified time. Several times at the beginning I was just aching to GO! I wanted to go so much faster. Once I got a bit out front and I heard her voice behind me saying "Anyone in the 4:15 group who's hearing my voice from behind you, you need to look out, because if you stay out there I'll pass you later." And she was right. I can look at the (incredibly high tech) results online and see how consistent my pace was. And I can see how David crashed and burned by watching his pace decrease over time. It's fascinating.
Anyway, when I got home after the race, I sat down and typed a thank you to Clif Bar for providing the pacers. I'm cutting and pasting it in here for posterity.
Dear Clif Bar Pace Leaders:
I couldn’t let any time go by before letting you know how tremendously important Star was to me today. My first marathon. 50 years old and literally just did my first “distance” (actually about ½ mile) run of my life on April 18 of this year, 2 days after my 50th birthday.
I trained hard, but essentially alone, using a conglomeration of training plans downloaded from the internet. I lost 35 pounds and feel like I’m in shape for the first time in my life – certainly at least since high school, where I was a pretty good athlete, but playing football and basketball and throwing the shot put and discus do not prepare one for distance running, even if they hadn’t been over 30 years ago. I’m working two full-time jobs (teaching college government and as a salesperson at REI) and the bulk of my training miles were put in between 10:00 and 11:00 or 11:30 at night, after teaching in the morning and working a shift at REI. (That’s my personal sob story. I’m sure most people out there have their own stories to tell – some much more compelling than that they had to work hard to train for a marathon. Duh.)
I struggled over what pace group to get with. When I originally saw your program and e-mailed you ( a few months ago) I predicted a 5 hour finish. By today I was pretty sure I could go faster than that, but I didn’t know how much faster. It wasn’t till this morning before the race that I decided which group to join. Yesterday, standing there at the counter at the consumer expo I grabbed the 4:15 and 4:30 wrist straps. This morning I finally decided that I would attempt the 4:15 pace group, thinking that if I couldn’t hold on I’d just drop back and still have a respectable finish.
I can’t tell you how glad I am of that decision. Star was magnificent. Although I was pretty focused and not as responsive during the race as I might have been, Star’s upbeat, almost constant talk was entertaining and very informative, and probably just as important, distracting. While listening to the “Mean Guy” story I was able to forget how sore my legs were getting.
I kind of yo-yo’d off the back of the group, because I walked fairly slowly through the water stops and had to keep putting in pretty strong efforts to catch back on. My potty stop was particularly hard to recover from. But I could see those balloons bouncing in the distance, and perhaps it was the old competitive instincts activating, but I managed to chase her down every time. Certainly one reason I worked so hard to get back with the group was that from the beginning Star reinforced (without ever saying it explicitly that I remember) my commitment to finishing in my goal time. Maybe it's silly, but I think I just didn't want to disappoint her.
At the very end of the race Star was especially critical. She reminded all of us why we were there – personal reasons, and because of those who’d supported us in training, and reminding us of the child beneficiaries of the event – and challenged everyone to give it their best shot – one mile at a time. By that time my legs were in pretty bad shape, and I started to cramp at about mile 24, just after the last water stop. That slowed me down even more, and I lost more time to Star than I had previously. But for whatever combination of reasons I was determined to catch those damn balloons. It was unquestionably the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done in my life, but by the finish I was just about 20 feet behind Star’s balloons, and finished in 4:14:34.
Without Star I unquestionably would not have finished in under 4:15. Would that have been the end of the world? No. I was prepared to think – sincerely – that just finishing would have been a real accomplishment for me. Still, managing to finish when and how I did feel hugely important. Star is not the only reason I had a great day. I worked damned long and hard to get there. But I realize that without her there, I would not have had the experience I had. Was it “fun?” Not really. Was it a great experience I am truly grateful to have had? Absolutely. And Star was an important part of it. I managed to give her a pretty emotional hug in the finishing chute, but I hope you’ll pass along my thanks to her and to whoever is responsible for getting her there. Y’all are the greatest! ;-)
Patrick Moore
OK. I know this post is getting pretty long. Just one more thing to say. Probably the most important part of the value of this marathon to me was what happened after the 24 mile water station. I was pretty far behind Star. I'd already run farther and faster than ever before in my life, by a wide margin. I almost just threw it in and said "OK. I'm done. I'll finish, but I'll slow it way down and finish a little more comfortably." Instead, though, I decided I HAD to chase Star down. I guess it seems melodramatic to talk too much about how I somehow think I wouldn't have been faithful to myself and the incredibly hard work I did over 8 months to just basically give up at the end. But that's how I felt. And it's how I feel now. Lots of people have similar experiences in many types of (non-marathon) situations, I'm sure. But it feels so valuable to persist. Not to give up or give in. It's a learning experience that's still important to an old guy. I can't express adequately how glad I am that I did this. I haven't felt this good about myself in a long time, if ever.
Sorry this went on so long.
Later....
One of the most important elements of the day was my having hooked up with a Clif Bar Pace Group. Clif Bar sells energy bars and gels and drinks. I've both eaten and sold (at REI) a ton of the stuff. They have a program through which they send experienced marathoners to selected races to lead pace groups. At the start, in the crowd of thousands of people, one could see groups of balloons beside signs declaring different finishing times: 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, etc. After a lot of thought, I got with the 4:15 group, led by Star (her name is Starshine Blackford). That was probably the best decision I made in the whole marathon experience, other than training for it in the first place. Only because of her was I able to maintain a consistent pace and finish when I did. She provided encouragement, information, distraction, consistency, motivation, and did it all while running a marathon carrying a stick with 4 big balloons on top of it the whole way.
One example: a regular REI customer who ran the marathon and with whom I had compared notes while training was sure he'd finish faster than me. Based on what he said his training times were, I was sure he would as well. But he didn't get with a pace group and went out way too fast. (It's INCREDIBLY hard to hold the pace down at the beginning. I've said in this blog before that I seemed for some reason physically incapable of running slowly on my own.) For the first 5 miles, David was way ahead of me. He slowed a little in the second segment, but at the half he was still a good ways ahead of me. But he caved in, because he started too fast, and ultimately finished over a half hour behind me. I'm pretty confident (assuming he was accurately reporting training times) that if he'd gotten with the 4:00 pace group he would have finished with them. It's so important to pace appropriately.
Star was running her... wait for it... 96th marathon! 96. That's a lot. It's not that impressive, necessarily, I suppose. It's just what she does. Lots of people do a lot of whatever they do. I have friends who have been published a lot in newspapers. What it does mean, though, is that she has learned how to maintain a pace to finish at a specified time. Several times at the beginning I was just aching to GO! I wanted to go so much faster. Once I got a bit out front and I heard her voice behind me saying "Anyone in the 4:15 group who's hearing my voice from behind you, you need to look out, because if you stay out there I'll pass you later." And she was right. I can look at the (incredibly high tech) results online and see how consistent my pace was. And I can see how David crashed and burned by watching his pace decrease over time. It's fascinating.
Anyway, when I got home after the race, I sat down and typed a thank you to Clif Bar for providing the pacers. I'm cutting and pasting it in here for posterity.
Dear Clif Bar Pace Leaders:
I couldn’t let any time go by before letting you know how tremendously important Star was to me today. My first marathon. 50 years old and literally just did my first “distance” (actually about ½ mile) run of my life on April 18 of this year, 2 days after my 50th birthday.
I trained hard, but essentially alone, using a conglomeration of training plans downloaded from the internet. I lost 35 pounds and feel like I’m in shape for the first time in my life – certainly at least since high school, where I was a pretty good athlete, but playing football and basketball and throwing the shot put and discus do not prepare one for distance running, even if they hadn’t been over 30 years ago. I’m working two full-time jobs (teaching college government and as a salesperson at REI) and the bulk of my training miles were put in between 10:00 and 11:00 or 11:30 at night, after teaching in the morning and working a shift at REI. (That’s my personal sob story. I’m sure most people out there have their own stories to tell – some much more compelling than that they had to work hard to train for a marathon. Duh.)
I struggled over what pace group to get with. When I originally saw your program and e-mailed you ( a few months ago) I predicted a 5 hour finish. By today I was pretty sure I could go faster than that, but I didn’t know how much faster. It wasn’t till this morning before the race that I decided which group to join. Yesterday, standing there at the counter at the consumer expo I grabbed the 4:15 and 4:30 wrist straps. This morning I finally decided that I would attempt the 4:15 pace group, thinking that if I couldn’t hold on I’d just drop back and still have a respectable finish.
I can’t tell you how glad I am of that decision. Star was magnificent. Although I was pretty focused and not as responsive during the race as I might have been, Star’s upbeat, almost constant talk was entertaining and very informative, and probably just as important, distracting. While listening to the “Mean Guy” story I was able to forget how sore my legs were getting.
I kind of yo-yo’d off the back of the group, because I walked fairly slowly through the water stops and had to keep putting in pretty strong efforts to catch back on. My potty stop was particularly hard to recover from. But I could see those balloons bouncing in the distance, and perhaps it was the old competitive instincts activating, but I managed to chase her down every time. Certainly one reason I worked so hard to get back with the group was that from the beginning Star reinforced (without ever saying it explicitly that I remember) my commitment to finishing in my goal time. Maybe it's silly, but I think I just didn't want to disappoint her.
At the very end of the race Star was especially critical. She reminded all of us why we were there – personal reasons, and because of those who’d supported us in training, and reminding us of the child beneficiaries of the event – and challenged everyone to give it their best shot – one mile at a time. By that time my legs were in pretty bad shape, and I started to cramp at about mile 24, just after the last water stop. That slowed me down even more, and I lost more time to Star than I had previously. But for whatever combination of reasons I was determined to catch those damn balloons. It was unquestionably the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done in my life, but by the finish I was just about 20 feet behind Star’s balloons, and finished in 4:14:34.
Without Star I unquestionably would not have finished in under 4:15. Would that have been the end of the world? No. I was prepared to think – sincerely – that just finishing would have been a real accomplishment for me. Still, managing to finish when and how I did feel hugely important. Star is not the only reason I had a great day. I worked damned long and hard to get there. But I realize that without her there, I would not have had the experience I had. Was it “fun?” Not really. Was it a great experience I am truly grateful to have had? Absolutely. And Star was an important part of it. I managed to give her a pretty emotional hug in the finishing chute, but I hope you’ll pass along my thanks to her and to whoever is responsible for getting her there. Y’all are the greatest! ;-)
Patrick Moore
OK. I know this post is getting pretty long. Just one more thing to say. Probably the most important part of the value of this marathon to me was what happened after the 24 mile water station. I was pretty far behind Star. I'd already run farther and faster than ever before in my life, by a wide margin. I almost just threw it in and said "OK. I'm done. I'll finish, but I'll slow it way down and finish a little more comfortably." Instead, though, I decided I HAD to chase Star down. I guess it seems melodramatic to talk too much about how I somehow think I wouldn't have been faithful to myself and the incredibly hard work I did over 8 months to just basically give up at the end. But that's how I felt. And it's how I feel now. Lots of people have similar experiences in many types of (non-marathon) situations, I'm sure. But it feels so valuable to persist. Not to give up or give in. It's a learning experience that's still important to an old guy. I can't express adequately how glad I am that I did this. I haven't felt this good about myself in a long time, if ever.
Sorry this went on so long.
Later....
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Tomorrow is the big day!
I spent the morning volunteering at the DRC booth at the Expo. Saw a few people I know, and talked about running a lot. Gretchen happened by the booth. Fun to see her. She was probably the most important influence in my starting to run, so I have a lot to thank her for. Also saw Roni Jackson. She's a customer who is just one of the million women who are stronger cyclists than I am. She was wearing an Ironman T-shirt, and we talked about the beginning swimming lessons at the Town North Y. I'm a little less self-conscious about thinking triathlon these days, but swimming is a problem. Or at least a big challenge. Yes, I learned to swim at the Y when I was 6 years old, and have always "known how to swim." But I do not really know how to swim. I know how to avoid drowning. I think with some work I could learn to swim well enough to at least beat the time deadline in a triathlon. That would be pretty awesome. What I need to do is simply decide if I'm going to do it. If I decide to do it, I can train well enough, I'm sure. And I think the decision is really made. I've just got to finalize it in my head. Perhaps I'll change my mind after tomorrow. But if it goes well, I'll probably be even more motivated.
But that's just a possibility for sometime in the future. Now I've got this challenge for tomorrow. How is it going to go? I just need to start out at an appropriate speed not to kill myself before the finish. I feel like I'm obsessing over this. But I want to do a good time AND I want to finish as comfortably as I reasonably can. Those are competing goals. I think finishing comfortably is more important, so I'm going to try to take it really slow and easy. Which means that at the beginning I'm going to feel like I'm barely walking. I've just decided that I'm going to get in with the 4:15 pace group. That will be 9:44 miles. I'm sure I can hold that. Then after about 18 miles or so, if I'm feeling good I can go ahead. If not, I can use the group as motivation not to slow down. And a 9:44 pace will let me walk through water stops with no trouble. I don't know if the group will walk. At that speed, though, even if they don't I'll still be able to keep up.
It's interesting that I've had some miscommunication with people because some people talk about their pace in minutes/mile terms, and some talk in finishing time terms. So today when I told someone I was thinking I'd try to do a 9:30 pace, he thought I meant I was going to try to finish in 9 hours and 30 minutes. He looked at me funny, until I realized he was trying to pretend to be positive about this ludicrously slow time. He felt much better when I told him I was talking about per mile pace.
Now I'm going to go sit where I can prop my feet up and watch a James Bond movie. Sound like fun? I'm going to the official pasta dinner tonight, and then I'll hit the hay early, of course. I'll be up around 5:30 tomorrow to eat and get to a parking spot in time to be reasonably close (I hope) to the finish line.
Wish me luck!
But that's just a possibility for sometime in the future. Now I've got this challenge for tomorrow. How is it going to go? I just need to start out at an appropriate speed not to kill myself before the finish. I feel like I'm obsessing over this. But I want to do a good time AND I want to finish as comfortably as I reasonably can. Those are competing goals. I think finishing comfortably is more important, so I'm going to try to take it really slow and easy. Which means that at the beginning I'm going to feel like I'm barely walking. I've just decided that I'm going to get in with the 4:15 pace group. That will be 9:44 miles. I'm sure I can hold that. Then after about 18 miles or so, if I'm feeling good I can go ahead. If not, I can use the group as motivation not to slow down. And a 9:44 pace will let me walk through water stops with no trouble. I don't know if the group will walk. At that speed, though, even if they don't I'll still be able to keep up.
It's interesting that I've had some miscommunication with people because some people talk about their pace in minutes/mile terms, and some talk in finishing time terms. So today when I told someone I was thinking I'd try to do a 9:30 pace, he thought I meant I was going to try to finish in 9 hours and 30 minutes. He looked at me funny, until I realized he was trying to pretend to be positive about this ludicrously slow time. He felt much better when I told him I was talking about per mile pace.
Now I'm going to go sit where I can prop my feet up and watch a James Bond movie. Sound like fun? I'm going to the official pasta dinner tonight, and then I'll hit the hay early, of course. I'll be up around 5:30 tomorrow to eat and get to a parking spot in time to be reasonably close (I hope) to the finish line.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
It's been a few days....
.... since I posted. I haven't been running much, either. I did run today. Not a long run, but a pretty hard one. Someone suggested that a hard 5K would be a good thing to keep the legs going, and then just another slow run later in the week. I was going to do the 5K last night, but there was an unavoidable clinic at REI last night, so I didn't get away from there till almost 10:30. I have run that late, but at this point I think sleep is more important. So I ran this morning instead. It was cool enough, and I felt great. I did a 23:57 5K. That's quite a bit faster than I've ever run a 5K. A 7:43 pace. That would put me in the top half of my age group in the DRC, which is fine. The world record (I just looked it up) is 12:37. So I'm just a bit shy of that. At least I'm less than double now. I've actually been sorta thinking about my goal time in terms of less than twice that of the winner. That would "only" require that I do something like a 4:22 or 4:24. Or perhaps even slower. That's entirely doable. But not at all a sure thing. We'll see.
I won't run tomorrow, and then Friday I'll do a slow one for 3 or 4 miles. Take Saturday off, and be rarin' to go! I can't believe it's almost here. The time has gone by so fast. I'm pretty excited, as I guess I've already said.
The semester is almost finished. I'm glad. I won't have enough time to enjoy it. Any time will be welcomed, though. I think next semester I'm going to require all papers and assignments be submitted online. I can't believe the amount of paper I end up with each semester. I will probably save most of a tree by myself. I'm kinda looking forward to next semester. I have 3 classes, but one is a Large Group, so I'll get paid for 4. Of course, a Large Group is as much work as 2 classes, so getting paid is not exactly charity.
(You know, opera sung in English just sounds funny. It **should** be in Italian. All my favorite operas are. Except for the ones in German.)
(Heard something funny today. On Fresh Air. Terry (we are on a first name basis, you know) was interviewing this guy who wrote a book about how important migrating animals are. He was talking about tracking migrating dragonflies, and said "... we were following dragonflies migrating in a plane, and ...." I had just the image you'd expect, of a bunch of dragonflies in a mini 747, with a bunch of dragonfly flight attendants handing out drinks. It's a good thing I wasn't doing the interview. I'd have made some smart ass remark. In fact, Terry even asked a followup question confirming that it was the people in the plane. I assumed at the time that she was trying to give the guy a chance to find his own humor in what he'd said, but he didn't go there.)
Anyway, it's late and I've still got some schoolwork to do, so I'm stopping.
I'm PUMPED for the race! It's going to be such an experience. I can't wait for it to be over!
I won't run tomorrow, and then Friday I'll do a slow one for 3 or 4 miles. Take Saturday off, and be rarin' to go! I can't believe it's almost here. The time has gone by so fast. I'm pretty excited, as I guess I've already said.
The semester is almost finished. I'm glad. I won't have enough time to enjoy it. Any time will be welcomed, though. I think next semester I'm going to require all papers and assignments be submitted online. I can't believe the amount of paper I end up with each semester. I will probably save most of a tree by myself. I'm kinda looking forward to next semester. I have 3 classes, but one is a Large Group, so I'll get paid for 4. Of course, a Large Group is as much work as 2 classes, so getting paid is not exactly charity.
(You know, opera sung in English just sounds funny. It **should** be in Italian. All my favorite operas are. Except for the ones in German.)
(Heard something funny today. On Fresh Air. Terry (we are on a first name basis, you know) was interviewing this guy who wrote a book about how important migrating animals are. He was talking about tracking migrating dragonflies, and said "... we were following dragonflies migrating in a plane, and ...." I had just the image you'd expect, of a bunch of dragonflies in a mini 747, with a bunch of dragonfly flight attendants handing out drinks. It's a good thing I wasn't doing the interview. I'd have made some smart ass remark. In fact, Terry even asked a followup question confirming that it was the people in the plane. I assumed at the time that she was trying to give the guy a chance to find his own humor in what he'd said, but he didn't go there.)
Anyway, it's late and I've still got some schoolwork to do, so I'm stopping.
I'm PUMPED for the race! It's going to be such an experience. I can't wait for it to be over!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Left something out
Forgot to mention. Another reason it's a great day.
On my way home from the run, I stopped by Half-Price Books to do some Christmas shopping. Got some great stuff, as always. But one real treasure. For me. An unabridged audiobook of Bret Harte's The Outcasts of Poker Flat & Other Stories.
Bret Harte is one of my favorites. The Outcasts of Poker Flat is the best known of his stories, I imagine, and it is a good one. For my money, though, The Luck of Roaring Camp is the best. Anyone who can read The Luck and not shed a tear simply has no heart. So when I saw that book on CD right there in front of me, I knew it was a special day.
I just hope I like the readers. I'll let you know....
On my way home from the run, I stopped by Half-Price Books to do some Christmas shopping. Got some great stuff, as always. But one real treasure. For me. An unabridged audiobook of Bret Harte's The Outcasts of Poker Flat & Other Stories.
Bret Harte is one of my favorites. The Outcasts of Poker Flat is the best known of his stories, I imagine, and it is a good one. For my money, though, The Luck of Roaring Camp is the best. Anyone who can read The Luck and not shed a tear simply has no heart. So when I saw that book on CD right there in front of me, I knew it was a special day.
I just hope I like the readers. I'll let you know....
Another great day....
You know what's the truth? I really love running. It's so odd for me to say that. Or at least to me it's odd. I NEVER would have thought I'd say I love running. I've always hated running. Perhaps it's just because I hated being forced to do it, rather than being motivated to do it on my own. Is it true that we always hate what we're forced against our will to do? I think that's true for reading, for example. In high school, when forced to read A Tale of Two Cities, everyone (with a few oddball exceptions (you know who you are)) hates it. But when reading it 20 years later, it's great! One realizes why it's a classic, and teachers force kids to read it. Same thing for Moby Dick. Hate it in high school. Love it as an adult. And broccoli. (Fortunately, I've never learned to love fruit cake. Does anyone actually eat that stuff? That bakery in Corsicana -- can't remember the name right off the top -- has made millions selling a product that no one eats. Bizarre.)
Anyway, running.... As I was doing my run this morning (9 miles) I made a point of focusing on my feelings. Physical feelings. Sensations. Breathing. Muscles flexing. Legs and arms moving. Chest expanding and contracting. Feet hitting the pavement. Arms moving back and forth. Sounds. Smells. Thirst. And what was I thinking about. (Actually, any psychologist would love to get hold of what I think about when I'm running. I don't think I should write it. No, it's not pornographic, if that's what you think I mean. And it's not consistent, anyway. But frequently it's.... well, as I said, it would fascinate a psychologist. Makes me think about things said about Lance Armstrong and what some people speculate (I assume they're speculating. Did he tell them?) he would think about while riding.)
But, back to the point.... When I was inventorying my feelings
(Ahah! Collin Street Bakery!)
I realized, really for the first time I remember having this specific thought, I was loving what I was doing. I've heard runners say that, but never appreciated it. I don't know what "runner's high" is. Don't think I've felt it. At least I haven't recognized it. But as I was running today, just a comfortable pace, I felt like I could go on forever. I felt so fit and strong. In control. Empowered. In touch with myself and everything and everyone around me.
Much moreso than when I'm on the bike. I really enjoy riding the bike as well. But now that I've been running, the bike seems so mechanical (duh!) and impersonal. It's like it separates the rider from what's going on around him. Almost like being in a car. On a bike you go so fast. Things come and go so quickly. I'm not sure what it is exactly. Or at least I'm not sure how to say it. I wish I were a more creative expressive writer. Probably everything I want to say has already been said by someone who is a runner and a real writer. I guess I should go get a book by that person (whoever it is, assuming it's out there) and just cut and paste passages into this blog. It would probably say everything I want to say, and people would be impressed with my writing at the same time. (just kidding...)
(Mozart Symphony No. 40 on Pandora. Love that they've started including classical music now.)
Well, this has gone on too long. I just hope I get over this cold before the marathon. The ankle and hip are both much better. If I am sick, though, it would be a real bummer.
Later....
Anyway, running.... As I was doing my run this morning (9 miles) I made a point of focusing on my feelings. Physical feelings. Sensations. Breathing. Muscles flexing. Legs and arms moving. Chest expanding and contracting. Feet hitting the pavement. Arms moving back and forth. Sounds. Smells. Thirst. And what was I thinking about. (Actually, any psychologist would love to get hold of what I think about when I'm running. I don't think I should write it. No, it's not pornographic, if that's what you think I mean. And it's not consistent, anyway. But frequently it's.... well, as I said, it would fascinate a psychologist. Makes me think about things said about Lance Armstrong and what some people speculate (I assume they're speculating. Did he tell them?) he would think about while riding.)
But, back to the point.... When I was inventorying my feelings
(Ahah! Collin Street Bakery!)
I realized, really for the first time I remember having this specific thought, I was loving what I was doing. I've heard runners say that, but never appreciated it. I don't know what "runner's high" is. Don't think I've felt it. At least I haven't recognized it. But as I was running today, just a comfortable pace, I felt like I could go on forever. I felt so fit and strong. In control. Empowered. In touch with myself and everything and everyone around me.
Much moreso than when I'm on the bike. I really enjoy riding the bike as well. But now that I've been running, the bike seems so mechanical (duh!) and impersonal. It's like it separates the rider from what's going on around him. Almost like being in a car. On a bike you go so fast. Things come and go so quickly. I'm not sure what it is exactly. Or at least I'm not sure how to say it. I wish I were a more creative expressive writer. Probably everything I want to say has already been said by someone who is a runner and a real writer. I guess I should go get a book by that person (whoever it is, assuming it's out there) and just cut and paste passages into this blog. It would probably say everything I want to say, and people would be impressed with my writing at the same time. (just kidding...)
(Mozart Symphony No. 40 on Pandora. Love that they've started including classical music now.)
Well, this has gone on too long. I just hope I get over this cold before the marathon. The ankle and hip are both much better. If I am sick, though, it would be a real bummer.
Later....
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Keep it up?
I was just thinking that this blog has pretty much served its purpose. I started it as a way to think through running-related issues leading up to the marathon, and I'm almost finished with running before the marathon. The last few entries haven't had much to say, except for whining about my sore ankle. I think I'll probably stop after the marathon. I don't know that I have much to say that's interesting to anyone, including me. I don't know.
I did talk with Nela today, about her and Paul's imminent visit to celebrate Pierce's 21st birthday on the 2nd. She had talked with a friend of hers who has done numerous marathons and who had some advice:
1. Stop running on a sore ankle, and see a doctor.
2. In the last week before a marathon, spend as much time as possible just watching the grass grow.
I won't be going to a doctor (though I'm sure that's good advice), but I will be taking it easy. I won't do zero running, but I'll not be doing much.
Oops. Just looked at the watch. Gotta go to work.
Later....
I did talk with Nela today, about her and Paul's imminent visit to celebrate Pierce's 21st birthday on the 2nd. She had talked with a friend of hers who has done numerous marathons and who had some advice:
1. Stop running on a sore ankle, and see a doctor.
2. In the last week before a marathon, spend as much time as possible just watching the grass grow.
I won't be going to a doctor (though I'm sure that's good advice), but I will be taking it easy. I won't do zero running, but I'll not be doing much.
Oops. Just looked at the watch. Gotta go to work.
Later....
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Feeling good this morning
If you haven't listened to Elisabeth (I realized I'd misspelled it last night and went back to correct it -- it has an s rather than a z) Schwarzkopf singing Strauss's Four Last Songs, you've really missed something..... Listening right now, sitting here in a computer cubicle at Richland with my ear buds leading from my Zune. Did I mention that I got a Zune? It was cheap, and I like it fine. I watched Radar Men from the Moon (all three episodes that I've got) yesterday, and the Zune is pretty good with video, too. Anyway....
I just sort of awakened to the fact last night that my hip is not hurting anymore. It hasn't hurt for the last 5 or 6 runs. I'd kind of noticed it before, but didn't get it that apparently the pain is gone for good. If I were suspicious I'd be worried right about now that I'd jinxed it. Jinxes are a weird thing. For some reason, I still have a little nagging worry that I can jinx something by talking about it. That's stupid, right? No such thing, right? Right. But I still sometimes have to remind myself, because that's one of those things we are raised with. Or at least I was.
Today I'll take off from running. Tomorrow I'll do probably 4 miles. I'll take Friday off, and I'll do a loop with the DRC group Saturday. Then not much running next week, and the race on Sunday. It will be done! Can you believe it? When it's over, I don't know what I'll do. People have started asking me if I'm going to keep running. Yes. I plan to. I've talked about that before, haven't I?
One more thing about last night. After my runs at Richland I generally go over the the outdoor gym area and do some situps and pushups and dips. I was doing that last night, when this guy walked up apparently having come out of the school. He was wearing a saffron-colored robe (What is the name for a Buddhist monk's robe (that's what I'm sure it was)? I imagine there is one, but I don't know it.). He walked right up to me -- I was on my back on the sit-up board -- and started asking questions in the middle of my sit-ups. He stood uncomfortably close. Asking how often I exercise and for how long and how many situps I do and what the exercise equipment is for and on and on. I was having to strain to understand him through his thick accent. When I moved to do dips he moved, too, and stood literally inches away from me. I have to tell you I was really creeped out. I wasn't afraid, except that he was going to ask me for money or something.
I tried to be polite, but I decided to leave before even doing pushups because I was really uncomfortable. I didn't think he was dangerous, and I didn't want to insult him, but I didn't want to try to explain that he was seriously invading my personal space, either. That would, I suppose, have been the right thing to do. But it was getting late, and I was getting cold. I haven't been feeling tip-top -- a little sorish throat and congestion and sneezing -- and I didn't want to get too chilled. I was sweaty from the run and it was in the lower 40s and my jacket was in the car. Trying to carry on a conversation with this guy would have been more than I was up for. He's going to have to learn about personal space from someone else. Or from me in more suitable conditions.
Oh, well. Gotta go to work.
Later.....
I just sort of awakened to the fact last night that my hip is not hurting anymore. It hasn't hurt for the last 5 or 6 runs. I'd kind of noticed it before, but didn't get it that apparently the pain is gone for good. If I were suspicious I'd be worried right about now that I'd jinxed it. Jinxes are a weird thing. For some reason, I still have a little nagging worry that I can jinx something by talking about it. That's stupid, right? No such thing, right? Right. But I still sometimes have to remind myself, because that's one of those things we are raised with. Or at least I was.
Today I'll take off from running. Tomorrow I'll do probably 4 miles. I'll take Friday off, and I'll do a loop with the DRC group Saturday. Then not much running next week, and the race on Sunday. It will be done! Can you believe it? When it's over, I don't know what I'll do. People have started asking me if I'm going to keep running. Yes. I plan to. I've talked about that before, haven't I?
One more thing about last night. After my runs at Richland I generally go over the the outdoor gym area and do some situps and pushups and dips. I was doing that last night, when this guy walked up apparently having come out of the school. He was wearing a saffron-colored robe (What is the name for a Buddhist monk's robe (that's what I'm sure it was)? I imagine there is one, but I don't know it.). He walked right up to me -- I was on my back on the sit-up board -- and started asking questions in the middle of my sit-ups. He stood uncomfortably close. Asking how often I exercise and for how long and how many situps I do and what the exercise equipment is for and on and on. I was having to strain to understand him through his thick accent. When I moved to do dips he moved, too, and stood literally inches away from me. I have to tell you I was really creeped out. I wasn't afraid, except that he was going to ask me for money or something.
I tried to be polite, but I decided to leave before even doing pushups because I was really uncomfortable. I didn't think he was dangerous, and I didn't want to insult him, but I didn't want to try to explain that he was seriously invading my personal space, either. That would, I suppose, have been the right thing to do. But it was getting late, and I was getting cold. I haven't been feeling tip-top -- a little sorish throat and congestion and sneezing -- and I didn't want to get too chilled. I was sweaty from the run and it was in the lower 40s and my jacket was in the car. Trying to carry on a conversation with this guy would have been more than I was up for. He's going to have to learn about personal space from someone else. Or from me in more suitable conditions.
Oh, well. Gotta go to work.
Later.....
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
What am I doing?
Damn!! I was at the end of a long post, and the computer crashed, and it's all gone. All about what I'm going to do in the next week and a half, and about Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss (I decided to listen to the Four Last Songs -- I have Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's last version, and it's just amazingly good. I haven't listened for a long time, and had forgotten how much I like it.)
And about what pace I'll run, and about how I want to go fast, so I can be good and everyone will say "Wow. That's great!" And about how I deep down want people to say that. But how it's also true that if I run a 4:45 or even slower it will still be OK. Just finishing is an accomplishment. Really it is. Lot's of people don't. I might not, though I've stopped thinking that.
And about my ankle, and how it's weird that walking around -- especially on stairs -- it really kinda hurts. And when I lie in bed it's hard to find a position in which it doesn't hurt at least a little bit. But how when I run, as long as I run consistently and straight it's OK. Going up even a little rise twinges it a little bit, though. I'm fine as long as I'm on the flat, and running evenly and consistently. I hope I'll be able to do that for 26.2 miles.
And about Chad's call tonight, which was interesting.
My bib number is 2981. (They sent me an e-mail day before yesterday with my number.) I'll have a blue number. They give blue numbers to first-time marathoners. It's not really a bib. It's just a square piece of paperish material that will have my name and number on it that gets safety-pinned to the front of my shirt. If you register early enough, which I did, they are able to print your name on your bib. Pretty cool. Is 2981 a good number? I don't know. The square of 9 is 81, so maybe that's a good omen! ;-) (Of course, the 2 and the 9 should really be reversed for the math to work, but who's counting?)
OK. It's really late and I'm really tired. I wish the computer hadn't dropped my post. I haven't really re-created it. Too bad. Or from your perspective, probably good. You won't have to read through all that. I had sort of gotten philosophical about how much I was thinking about how it would go and how fast I'd be. So you dodged all that. Lucky. Plus I had talked more about the music that you won't have to dig through.
Really discombobulated post tonight. Oh, well. The last couple have been really bad, I think. I'm just not being careful. It's a good thing I'm not writing expecting a real audience. (And I apologize to anyone who does actually try to read this mess. I'll try to be more careful in the future. Or maybe not.)
Later...
And about what pace I'll run, and about how I want to go fast, so I can be good and everyone will say "Wow. That's great!" And about how I deep down want people to say that. But how it's also true that if I run a 4:45 or even slower it will still be OK. Just finishing is an accomplishment. Really it is. Lot's of people don't. I might not, though I've stopped thinking that.
And about my ankle, and how it's weird that walking around -- especially on stairs -- it really kinda hurts. And when I lie in bed it's hard to find a position in which it doesn't hurt at least a little bit. But how when I run, as long as I run consistently and straight it's OK. Going up even a little rise twinges it a little bit, though. I'm fine as long as I'm on the flat, and running evenly and consistently. I hope I'll be able to do that for 26.2 miles.
And about Chad's call tonight, which was interesting.
My bib number is 2981. (They sent me an e-mail day before yesterday with my number.) I'll have a blue number. They give blue numbers to first-time marathoners. It's not really a bib. It's just a square piece of paperish material that will have my name and number on it that gets safety-pinned to the front of my shirt. If you register early enough, which I did, they are able to print your name on your bib. Pretty cool. Is 2981 a good number? I don't know. The square of 9 is 81, so maybe that's a good omen! ;-) (Of course, the 2 and the 9 should really be reversed for the math to work, but who's counting?)
OK. It's really late and I'm really tired. I wish the computer hadn't dropped my post. I haven't really re-created it. Too bad. Or from your perspective, probably good. You won't have to read through all that. I had sort of gotten philosophical about how much I was thinking about how it would go and how fast I'd be. So you dodged all that. Lucky. Plus I had talked more about the music that you won't have to dig through.
Really discombobulated post tonight. Oh, well. The last couple have been really bad, I think. I'm just not being careful. It's a good thing I'm not writing expecting a real audience. (And I apologize to anyone who does actually try to read this mess. I'll try to be more careful in the future. Or maybe not.)
Later...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
This morning's run...
Ugh...
Did 12 miles this morning. Not too long. Felt OK, except that the blasted ankle was really sore. I think I'm going to take 2 -- or maybe even 3 -- days off. Hopefully (is that a grammatically correct word?) that will fix the problem. Of course, taking days off isn't really taking days off. I still have to be on my feet teaching and working at REI. I won't run, though. We'll see.
The run was still an "ugh" because of the conditions. It was pretty chilly. About 38 (someone said) at the start of the run. And raining. I woke up around 3:00 this morning and it was raining. I hoped it would stop before the run. It did. We met up just before 7:00 and chatted for a minute before starting out. Then, just as we were jogging out of the parking lot, it started raining again. Not hard. Just a cold drizzle. But it never stopped throughout the run. We were all soaked within minutes. Upper 30s and rain. I was wearing a long-sleeved jersey and my regular running shorts, but no jacket. I did manage to have something over my ears, and I had a light pair of gloves on. So that helped, too.
It's true that you produce a lot of heat when running. So I was not as cold as it might seem. But over time it seems to get worse. By the time you've gone 10 miles soaked in the cold, the wind starts to get to you. My legs started to get cold, and a little numbish.
(James Taylor on now. I actually bought that CD they have at Starbucks. I'd heard some cuts off of it, and some of the old songs sounded really good, and almost new. I guess I was feeling weak, and picked it up. It really is good. I wonder if I'll ever watch the DVD included in the set....)
There weren't many people out there today. Some. Just fewer than normal. Not surprisingly, I guess. We joked a bit about how we were real hardmen (and woman). That was at the beginning. After we'd been going a while, we weren't joking about anything anymore. We did continue to talk some. Training runs are supposed to be done at a conversational pace. We usually manage that. I probably actually train too fast, though. That's not something I worry about. It may actually be a problem, in a way. Otherwise why would ALL the training guides say train at least 30 seconds per mile slower than anticipated marathon pace. Most even say 60 seconds. But that's not what I do. I sort of go my own pace, which is always faster than my conceivable race pace.
(Can't forget "Chemtrails.")
Yes, that's bad. Apparently. To me, the problem seems to be that it makes it harder to go out slowly at the beginning of the marathon. When I go the pace I should go, it feels so slow. I'll have to exercise significant discipline at the start of the race, in order not to die (Not literally die, of course. I guess that's no longer assumed, because the thought's crossed my mind, given the guys who died in Chicago and the Olympic trials.) by the end. It's also going to take discipline to cut down my running enough during this tapering period. It just seems like not running would cause me to "lose it" over 2 weeks or so with no long run. Everyone says that doesn't happen, though.
Well, I've actually got more to think (and therefore talk/type) about, but I'm going to stop for now.
Did 12 miles this morning. Not too long. Felt OK, except that the blasted ankle was really sore. I think I'm going to take 2 -- or maybe even 3 -- days off. Hopefully (is that a grammatically correct word?) that will fix the problem. Of course, taking days off isn't really taking days off. I still have to be on my feet teaching and working at REI. I won't run, though. We'll see.
The run was still an "ugh" because of the conditions. It was pretty chilly. About 38 (someone said) at the start of the run. And raining. I woke up around 3:00 this morning and it was raining. I hoped it would stop before the run. It did. We met up just before 7:00 and chatted for a minute before starting out. Then, just as we were jogging out of the parking lot, it started raining again. Not hard. Just a cold drizzle. But it never stopped throughout the run. We were all soaked within minutes. Upper 30s and rain. I was wearing a long-sleeved jersey and my regular running shorts, but no jacket. I did manage to have something over my ears, and I had a light pair of gloves on. So that helped, too.
It's true that you produce a lot of heat when running. So I was not as cold as it might seem. But over time it seems to get worse. By the time you've gone 10 miles soaked in the cold, the wind starts to get to you. My legs started to get cold, and a little numbish.
(James Taylor on now. I actually bought that CD they have at Starbucks. I'd heard some cuts off of it, and some of the old songs sounded really good, and almost new. I guess I was feeling weak, and picked it up. It really is good. I wonder if I'll ever watch the DVD included in the set....)
There weren't many people out there today. Some. Just fewer than normal. Not surprisingly, I guess. We joked a bit about how we were real hardmen (and woman). That was at the beginning. After we'd been going a while, we weren't joking about anything anymore. We did continue to talk some. Training runs are supposed to be done at a conversational pace. We usually manage that. I probably actually train too fast, though. That's not something I worry about. It may actually be a problem, in a way. Otherwise why would ALL the training guides say train at least 30 seconds per mile slower than anticipated marathon pace. Most even say 60 seconds. But that's not what I do. I sort of go my own pace, which is always faster than my conceivable race pace.
(Can't forget "Chemtrails.")
Yes, that's bad. Apparently. To me, the problem seems to be that it makes it harder to go out slowly at the beginning of the marathon. When I go the pace I should go, it feels so slow. I'll have to exercise significant discipline at the start of the race, in order not to die (Not literally die, of course. I guess that's no longer assumed, because the thought's crossed my mind, given the guys who died in Chicago and the Olympic trials.) by the end. It's also going to take discipline to cut down my running enough during this tapering period. It just seems like not running would cause me to "lose it" over 2 weeks or so with no long run. Everyone says that doesn't happen, though.
Well, I've actually got more to think (and therefore talk/type) about, but I'm going to stop for now.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Turkey Trot Day
Did the Trot today. It went fine, though I hope my ankle gets better sometime. (I guess that would be more likely if I'd take some time off from running. I'm not really comfortable doing that, though. I'll take tomorrow off, and then have my long run Saturday, as usual.)
Anyway, I went faster today than I expected. My chip time was 1:11:16. And that was with a REALLY congested (and therefore slow) start, and a slightly extended (waiting in a line) potty stop at 5 miles. I would have taken 1:30 or 2:00 off my time if I hadn't had to stop. My pace was 8:54. If I'd saved 1:30 it would have been 8:43. But who's counting?
I went about 30 seconds faster in the last mile than the next fastest mile. Negative splits like that are good, they say, but I don't think I really grok the strategy. Doesn't going fastest at the end just mean you haven't gone fast enough earlier? You have "too much left" at the end? Of course, you don't want to croak at the end, either. If I were a "real" runner (one who did a lot of races and thought about this kind of thing at times other than in the immediate aftermath of a race) I'd do enough races and race-pace training that I'd be able to plan mile-by-mile pace as I think some folks do. Or at least I'd know myself well enough that I'd be able to judge the appropriate pace. As it is, I go out too slowly, for two reasons, I think:
1. I'm worried that I'll bonk and so I go more slowly than I really need to,
2. To go faster would make it hurt more, and I don't really want it to be that hard. I just want to enjoy the experience. There's really no reason for me to worry about going faster.
I'm balancing wanting to perform well with having no interest in killing myself to do so. So far, not killing myself is winning.
(Spencer Moore again. Not that it matters.)
The good news was that my hip was pretty much fine. I didn't even think about it, which was great!
This blog has been great for me. It's serving its purpose exactly. I'm afraid it's not much fun to read, though. Maybe I'll start talking about my Conspiracy Theories class next fall. What should I include:
FDR/Pearl Harbor
JFK
UFOs/Area 51
9/11 "inside job"
MLK
Trilateral Commission/CFR/Bilderberg, etc.
TWA 800
Moon Landing Hoax
Princess Diana
Weather control (2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricanes Rita and Katrina)
AIDS invented by the CIA
Other favorites???
OK. That's probably not very fun, either, except to me.....
I'm tired.
Later...
Anyway, I went faster today than I expected. My chip time was 1:11:16. And that was with a REALLY congested (and therefore slow) start, and a slightly extended (waiting in a line) potty stop at 5 miles. I would have taken 1:30 or 2:00 off my time if I hadn't had to stop. My pace was 8:54. If I'd saved 1:30 it would have been 8:43. But who's counting?
I went about 30 seconds faster in the last mile than the next fastest mile. Negative splits like that are good, they say, but I don't think I really grok the strategy. Doesn't going fastest at the end just mean you haven't gone fast enough earlier? You have "too much left" at the end? Of course, you don't want to croak at the end, either. If I were a "real" runner (one who did a lot of races and thought about this kind of thing at times other than in the immediate aftermath of a race) I'd do enough races and race-pace training that I'd be able to plan mile-by-mile pace as I think some folks do. Or at least I'd know myself well enough that I'd be able to judge the appropriate pace. As it is, I go out too slowly, for two reasons, I think:
1. I'm worried that I'll bonk and so I go more slowly than I really need to,
2. To go faster would make it hurt more, and I don't really want it to be that hard. I just want to enjoy the experience. There's really no reason for me to worry about going faster.
I'm balancing wanting to perform well with having no interest in killing myself to do so. So far, not killing myself is winning.
(Spencer Moore again. Not that it matters.)
The good news was that my hip was pretty much fine. I didn't even think about it, which was great!
This blog has been great for me. It's serving its purpose exactly. I'm afraid it's not much fun to read, though. Maybe I'll start talking about my Conspiracy Theories class next fall. What should I include:
FDR/Pearl Harbor
JFK
UFOs/Area 51
9/11 "inside job"
MLK
Trilateral Commission/CFR/Bilderberg, etc.
TWA 800
Moon Landing Hoax
Princess Diana
Weather control (2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricanes Rita and Katrina)
AIDS invented by the CIA
Other favorites???
OK. That's probably not very fun, either, except to me.....
I'm tired.
Later...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Still not feeling great
I've still got time before the 9th to get all the little aches taken care of. I hope. Went for a 6 mile run last night, and took Kosmos with me. Chad's (actually Tara's) dog. Big black Lab. I don't think he'd ever been for a run like that before. At least not for a long time. He really pulled a lot at the beginning. It kind of made it tough on me. I spent so much energy getting him under control it interfered with my running. And it made me a little bit lop-sided. (Lop-sided is one of those weird words, like "tumped." I actually looked up "tumped" once and found, somewhat to my surprise, that it's in the dictionary. But I wonder what a "lop" is. I don't imagine it's the same "lop" as in "lop off" (as in a branch from a tree). I'll look it up sometime.
Anyway.... by the end of 6 miles, Kos wasn't pulling much at all. It was actually funny. He kept looking up at me, as if to ask "What in the heck is going on?" I try not to anthropomorphize animals, but it was hard to avoid interpreting his looking at me as a question. He and I both did fine, though. But I've still got those aches, and especially my ankle. My whole right side is a botherment. And I was holding the leash with my right hand. I don't think that helped. I did try switching it, but I wasn't comfortable with the leash on the left. Maybe I won't take Kos out again, except on a walk rather than a run.
Doing the Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. Eight miles, and thousands of people. Someone said it's one of the biggest Turkey Trots in the country. I think every city and town in America has a Turkey Trot, so that's likely not true. Dallas likes to think it's the biggest of everything.
Anyway, need to get to class. Showing "An Inconvenient Truth" in class today. And handing out an "anti-An Inconvenient Truth" essay as well. We've spent the last couple of classes talking about economic and environmental policy, and I thought it would be interesting. We'll see if they stay awake.
Later....
Anyway.... by the end of 6 miles, Kos wasn't pulling much at all. It was actually funny. He kept looking up at me, as if to ask "What in the heck is going on?" I try not to anthropomorphize animals, but it was hard to avoid interpreting his looking at me as a question. He and I both did fine, though. But I've still got those aches, and especially my ankle. My whole right side is a botherment. And I was holding the leash with my right hand. I don't think that helped. I did try switching it, but I wasn't comfortable with the leash on the left. Maybe I won't take Kos out again, except on a walk rather than a run.
Doing the Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. Eight miles, and thousands of people. Someone said it's one of the biggest Turkey Trots in the country. I think every city and town in America has a Turkey Trot, so that's likely not true. Dallas likes to think it's the biggest of everything.
Anyway, need to get to class. Showing "An Inconvenient Truth" in class today. And handing out an "anti-An Inconvenient Truth" essay as well. We've spent the last couple of classes talking about economic and environmental policy, and I thought it would be interesting. We'll see if they stay awake.
Later....
Saturday, November 17, 2007
When does 15 feel like 26?
I can tell you. It's when your ankle and hip hurt during a run when you really really really didn't want them to. After Thursday night, I thought maybe my little hurts were a thing of the past. I hoped, anyway. Turns out they are still with me. The ankle might have been much better, but it's so fragile that I kind of twinged it a little bit while getting ready for the run, and it went from feeling a lot better to feeling almost as bad as ever.
I'm pretty frustrated by it. I've always been pretty hardy. Not prone to a lot of little aches and pains. (OK. That may not be exactly true, given that my back and knee and shoulder have been recurring problems. I did have knee surgery, after all. And I have broken my ankle twice and my leg once and my collarbone several times and my neck once and a toe once and a finger, and my heart.... well, I'll let you guess how many times. But at least I've never needed to be careful while going about my daily business.) But now I really do have to be careful. I can go out and run, but I really watch my step to be sure I land on smooth spots.
(Sorry for the delay there, I had to go switch a load of wash into the dryer...)
I've complained about the fragile feeling enough, so I won't go back through that. But it's assuredly -- I now know -- not just a feeling. It's actual factual that I have developed fragile joints. I'm not sure how to interpret it. Again, I've talked about all that before, so now I'll just say that after the marathon is completed I'll re-evaluate the whole running thing. I think what I'll end up doing it just spending a longish while doing slowish runs just to build the base I didn't give myself a chance to build in my headlong mad rush to run a marathon.
So I went for a 15-miler today. I went with the old 10 minute pace group from the DRC I trained with for the Half. Most of them are doing the half again on the day of my marathon. (Of the perhaps 10,000 people at the White Rock Marathon, well over half will be either doing a half or running a leg of a relay.) Only one other person from my training group is doing the full. I was OK, but my right ankle and knee and hip were pretty hurty. (Patty Griffin singing Heavenly Day. Have I talked about that? I can't remember. Gives me chills.) They did 10 and I went on after they stopped. I didn't really enjoy the last 5 miles.
My hope is that by having an extended taper I'll ease up on the ol' joints enough that they'll be back raring to go on December 9. I had thought I'd do another longer run next weekend. But I got talked out of that today. I'll have a typical training week this week, except that my long run at the end will only be about 12 miles. Then an easier week, with probably just a loop for a long run. Then an even easier week, and on Sunday, the race! With that much of a mileage reduction, it will likely mean a slower race. But I don't really care, if it also means a more comfortable race. It would be fun if I could finish faster than the overall average time, which last year was 4:21. Somehow now I doubt that will happen, though. We'll see. (Oscar Peterson and Who Can I Turn To? He's the greatest.) Probably more realistic to think about beating the Clydesdale/Athena average -- 4:43. I'll probably be barely still a Clydesdale. I may actually be a pound or two light. But I don't think I'll tell anyone. If I'm not a Clydesdale I'll have earned a bit of a break by having gotten to that point. I will not feel guilty at all. No jury would convict me.
OK. Confession time. I like Matt Monro. And Tony Bennett. And John Gray. And pretty much all those guys. Does that mean I'm old? A throwback? Sickeningly sentimental? I like some modern stuff, too. But look... A bunch of people have recorded old standards. Rod Stewart, for gosh sakes. Van Morrison. If you look, there are quite a few who've covered the Songbook.
Anyway, it's bed time. I'm tired.
Later....
I'm pretty frustrated by it. I've always been pretty hardy. Not prone to a lot of little aches and pains. (OK. That may not be exactly true, given that my back and knee and shoulder have been recurring problems. I did have knee surgery, after all. And I have broken my ankle twice and my leg once and my collarbone several times and my neck once and a toe once and a finger, and my heart.... well, I'll let you guess how many times. But at least I've never needed to be careful while going about my daily business.) But now I really do have to be careful. I can go out and run, but I really watch my step to be sure I land on smooth spots.
(Sorry for the delay there, I had to go switch a load of wash into the dryer...)
I've complained about the fragile feeling enough, so I won't go back through that. But it's assuredly -- I now know -- not just a feeling. It's actual factual that I have developed fragile joints. I'm not sure how to interpret it. Again, I've talked about all that before, so now I'll just say that after the marathon is completed I'll re-evaluate the whole running thing. I think what I'll end up doing it just spending a longish while doing slowish runs just to build the base I didn't give myself a chance to build in my headlong mad rush to run a marathon.
So I went for a 15-miler today. I went with the old 10 minute pace group from the DRC I trained with for the Half. Most of them are doing the half again on the day of my marathon. (Of the perhaps 10,000 people at the White Rock Marathon, well over half will be either doing a half or running a leg of a relay.) Only one other person from my training group is doing the full. I was OK, but my right ankle and knee and hip were pretty hurty. (Patty Griffin singing Heavenly Day. Have I talked about that? I can't remember. Gives me chills.) They did 10 and I went on after they stopped. I didn't really enjoy the last 5 miles.
My hope is that by having an extended taper I'll ease up on the ol' joints enough that they'll be back raring to go on December 9. I had thought I'd do another longer run next weekend. But I got talked out of that today. I'll have a typical training week this week, except that my long run at the end will only be about 12 miles. Then an easier week, with probably just a loop for a long run. Then an even easier week, and on Sunday, the race! With that much of a mileage reduction, it will likely mean a slower race. But I don't really care, if it also means a more comfortable race. It would be fun if I could finish faster than the overall average time, which last year was 4:21. Somehow now I doubt that will happen, though. We'll see. (Oscar Peterson and Who Can I Turn To? He's the greatest.) Probably more realistic to think about beating the Clydesdale/Athena average -- 4:43. I'll probably be barely still a Clydesdale. I may actually be a pound or two light. But I don't think I'll tell anyone. If I'm not a Clydesdale I'll have earned a bit of a break by having gotten to that point. I will not feel guilty at all. No jury would convict me.
OK. Confession time. I like Matt Monro. And Tony Bennett. And John Gray. And pretty much all those guys. Does that mean I'm old? A throwback? Sickeningly sentimental? I like some modern stuff, too. But look... A bunch of people have recorded old standards. Rod Stewart, for gosh sakes. Van Morrison. If you look, there are quite a few who've covered the Songbook.
Anyway, it's bed time. I'm tired.
Later....
Friday, November 16, 2007
Wish they could all be like that
Last night's run went great. I did a long loop, including the Dolly Parton hills. Turns out to be exactly 9.6 miles. I call it long, because just following the trail is shorter, about 9.15 or 9.2 or so. The Dolly Parton hills are a couple of rollers that show up on the marathon route at about 19 miles. They are pretty unpopular after that distance, when you'd prefer it to be flat.
In fact, if you look at the elevation profile online, you'll see that right after 20 miles the route tends sharply up. It looks terrible, and I'm sure after running 20 miles it will be terrible. They call it "The Wall." The problem is that right about that distance is when most people's glycogen stores are totally depleted, and they "hit the wall" there anyway. Add to that the upslope and it can apparently make for an unpleasant mile or two.
The profile looks so daunting that I made sure to run there on a training run just to see what it was like. It's not really very bad at all. Or it didn't seem bad. The scale of the map makes it look worse than it is. When I ran it I got to the 21 mile point and wondered if I'd even run the right route, it seemed so easy. Of course, I was doing it at a training pace and after only 7 miles, rather than at race pace after 20 miles. I know it will be completely different the day of the marathon. I'll probably be cursing "The Wall" along with everyone else.
Back to last night, briefly. I think that kind of run is why people like to run. Pick a comfortable but not lolly-gagging pace and just go. I finished the run in a 9:03 pace, but that was with the typical water stops and one rather extended potty break. (Listening to Spencer Moore. Actually did an mp3 download from Amazon.com of this album. It's great. Ol' Spencer may not be the guy for all tastes, but it's just him and his guitar unadorned, and for a fan of roots music, you don't get much rootier than Spencer. Highly recommended.)
I used to stop the clock during breaks like that, wanting to know just how fast I was running while I was running. I realized, though, that on race day, they don't stop the clock for anything (news flash!!) so if I wanted to have a realistic notion of how I'd do I'd have to leave it running. So I have some slow miles mixed in with the run. To offset the 9:55 and 11:05 miles last night, I had to have several well down in the 8s.
Last night I mentioned that I felt really good heading out to run. I felt good throughout most of the run. When I stopped at about 7 to potty, I noticed (oddly, I usually don't have energy or alertness or whatever to really think about it) that I felt GREAT!! I'd been going at a sub-9 minute pace for over 7 miles, which is a healthy pace for me, and I felt GREAT!! (Spencer is singing Great Speckled Bird, a classic) I actually stopped and looked around and felt my breathing and and just had to smile. Moments like that have to be why people run. Or do other similar things. You just feel so strong and alive and in touch with yourself and everything around you. It's hard for me to describe. I wish I were a better writer and could convey it.
Of course, to be completely honest, I have to say that later in the run I'd been going at about an 8:20 - 8:25 pace for a couple of miles, and felt ready for it to be over. Yes, I felt good, but I was ready to stop. It's always good to see the finish line.
One more thing, and I've got to go so I'm not late to class (doing Precinct Convention again today, so easy prep). The ankle. It felt really good throughout the run. Taking the day off was just what it needed, I guess. It twinged a little bit, and still does, but as long as I'm careful it works and feels fine. In fact, the hip was fine last night as well. Maybe I'm really getting all better for the marathon!
Gotta go to class.
Later....
In fact, if you look at the elevation profile online, you'll see that right after 20 miles the route tends sharply up. It looks terrible, and I'm sure after running 20 miles it will be terrible. They call it "The Wall." The problem is that right about that distance is when most people's glycogen stores are totally depleted, and they "hit the wall" there anyway. Add to that the upslope and it can apparently make for an unpleasant mile or two.
The profile looks so daunting that I made sure to run there on a training run just to see what it was like. It's not really very bad at all. Or it didn't seem bad. The scale of the map makes it look worse than it is. When I ran it I got to the 21 mile point and wondered if I'd even run the right route, it seemed so easy. Of course, I was doing it at a training pace and after only 7 miles, rather than at race pace after 20 miles. I know it will be completely different the day of the marathon. I'll probably be cursing "The Wall" along with everyone else.
Back to last night, briefly. I think that kind of run is why people like to run. Pick a comfortable but not lolly-gagging pace and just go. I finished the run in a 9:03 pace, but that was with the typical water stops and one rather extended potty break. (Listening to Spencer Moore. Actually did an mp3 download from Amazon.com of this album. It's great. Ol' Spencer may not be the guy for all tastes, but it's just him and his guitar unadorned, and for a fan of roots music, you don't get much rootier than Spencer. Highly recommended.)
I used to stop the clock during breaks like that, wanting to know just how fast I was running while I was running. I realized, though, that on race day, they don't stop the clock for anything (news flash!!) so if I wanted to have a realistic notion of how I'd do I'd have to leave it running. So I have some slow miles mixed in with the run. To offset the 9:55 and 11:05 miles last night, I had to have several well down in the 8s.
Last night I mentioned that I felt really good heading out to run. I felt good throughout most of the run. When I stopped at about 7 to potty, I noticed (oddly, I usually don't have energy or alertness or whatever to really think about it) that I felt GREAT!! I'd been going at a sub-9 minute pace for over 7 miles, which is a healthy pace for me, and I felt GREAT!! (Spencer is singing Great Speckled Bird, a classic) I actually stopped and looked around and felt my breathing and and just had to smile. Moments like that have to be why people run. Or do other similar things. You just feel so strong and alive and in touch with yourself and everything around you. It's hard for me to describe. I wish I were a better writer and could convey it.
Of course, to be completely honest, I have to say that later in the run I'd been going at about an 8:20 - 8:25 pace for a couple of miles, and felt ready for it to be over. Yes, I felt good, but I was ready to stop. It's always good to see the finish line.
One more thing, and I've got to go so I'm not late to class (doing Precinct Convention again today, so easy prep). The ankle. It felt really good throughout the run. Taking the day off was just what it needed, I guess. It twinged a little bit, and still does, but as long as I'm careful it works and feels fine. In fact, the hip was fine last night as well. Maybe I'm really getting all better for the marathon!
Gotta go to class.
Later....
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Excited!
No time for a full-blown post here, but I wanted to say something.
I'm really excited about going for a run right now. I'm actually off from REI on a weekday (rarely happens). It's still daylight and I'm going for a run!!!! I'm so excited that I'm going to go the the lake and do a loop. It will be good for me. I'll just ice the ankle when I get back. It'll be OK, won't it?
It's not typical for me actually to be excited about going for a run. I do it, and don't dread it, but I don't get excited about it, either. Until now. Of course, I know a lot of the excitement is about being off and getting to do something in the daylight instead of at 10:00 pm.
Anyway, just wanted to say I'm Excited!!
I'll let you know how it turned out.
I'm really excited about going for a run right now. I'm actually off from REI on a weekday (rarely happens). It's still daylight and I'm going for a run!!!! I'm so excited that I'm going to go the the lake and do a loop. It will be good for me. I'll just ice the ankle when I get back. It'll be OK, won't it?
It's not typical for me actually to be excited about going for a run. I do it, and don't dread it, but I don't get excited about it, either. Until now. Of course, I know a lot of the excitement is about being off and getting to do something in the daylight instead of at 10:00 pm.
Anyway, just wanted to say I'm Excited!!
I'll let you know how it turned out.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Feeling better and worse
I only did 3 miles Sunday, and took yesterday off altogether. So I should be feeling better. In a way I am. I don't really feel tired (and slept better last night). Plus, Brad says my experience with the long runs is fairly typical, particularly for a first-timer, and I shouldn't be worried about it. He may be just trying to make me feel better. If so, it worked.
On the other hand, my right ankle is now hurting. Stupid. I was (once again, if you don't like graphic description you may want to skip the next couple of sentences) sitting down trimming my toenails (I do that a lot these days, trying to avoid another black toenail to go with the one I've already got, which hasn't yet fallen off, by the way). I grabbed my right foot to pull it closer -- so I could see -- and when I yanked on it, I pulled the ankle somehow. Now it hurts, and is actually a little bit swollen. How stupid is that?
I've mentioned before that my joints feel sort of fragile. It's a hard feeling to describe, but it's like I can actually feel my joints working in a way that I was never sensitive to before. I sort of walk around on pins and needles all the time. And I seem to move more slowly when I'm walking around or at work. I don't know if it's because of an actual difference in the joints or simply because I'm paying attention more now than before. This ankle thing makes me think it's a diff in the ankle joint. How else could I injure myself while trimming my toenails? My treatment plan is just to ignore it. I guess, depending on how it feels, I may ice it after tonight's run.
(The mind is a weird thing. I've said that I didn't actually intend for anyone to read this blog. And that's still mostly true. I know Jennifer has read it, but based on the available evidence, she's the only one other than me. That's fine with me. Yesterday, however, I was talking to a couple of people at REI and casually mentioned that I'd just finished a blog post. They were surprised to hear that I have a blog, and wanted the address. I just told them to go away and leave me alone because it's not for public consumption (I said it in a nice way). But why would my brain/mouth have blurted that out? Is it because I really want people to read it, even though I think I don't want them to? I do (I know this about myself) sometimes like to be the center of attention. How does that affect the freudian typo thing? Maybe there really is more to that than my boringly analytical self wants to admit? Maybe I'm the only one who seems to be taking it seriously at all anyway. Most of the people coming up on a "freudian typo" Google search are either being light-hearted (even tongue in cheek) or only finding them when they support some kind of political point. No one else is trying to analyze it. So I'll drop it, too.)
I also feel pretty good about being on the downhill slope to running the marathon. I've spent a lot of time and effort on it, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Especially since I gave myself permission to completely ignore my time. (I hope I can do that -- I feel better about the whole thing when I approach it that way.) It's remarkable how stressful it can be (for me, anyway) to worry about my time. When I think I'm running to get a fast time, I sort of dread how hard it will be. When I think I'm just going to go out to do it and finish and live the experience, I'm able to feel better about myself; pleased with the work I've done and the idea of accomplishing a marathon and the sensations associated with being out there with thousands of other people all engaged in this difficult endeavor.
I shouldn't be doing this right now. I should be entering grades. So that's what I'm going to do.
Later...
On the other hand, my right ankle is now hurting. Stupid. I was (once again, if you don't like graphic description you may want to skip the next couple of sentences) sitting down trimming my toenails (I do that a lot these days, trying to avoid another black toenail to go with the one I've already got, which hasn't yet fallen off, by the way). I grabbed my right foot to pull it closer -- so I could see -- and when I yanked on it, I pulled the ankle somehow. Now it hurts, and is actually a little bit swollen. How stupid is that?
I've mentioned before that my joints feel sort of fragile. It's a hard feeling to describe, but it's like I can actually feel my joints working in a way that I was never sensitive to before. I sort of walk around on pins and needles all the time. And I seem to move more slowly when I'm walking around or at work. I don't know if it's because of an actual difference in the joints or simply because I'm paying attention more now than before. This ankle thing makes me think it's a diff in the ankle joint. How else could I injure myself while trimming my toenails? My treatment plan is just to ignore it. I guess, depending on how it feels, I may ice it after tonight's run.
(The mind is a weird thing. I've said that I didn't actually intend for anyone to read this blog. And that's still mostly true. I know Jennifer has read it, but based on the available evidence, she's the only one other than me. That's fine with me. Yesterday, however, I was talking to a couple of people at REI and casually mentioned that I'd just finished a blog post. They were surprised to hear that I have a blog, and wanted the address. I just told them to go away and leave me alone because it's not for public consumption (I said it in a nice way). But why would my brain/mouth have blurted that out? Is it because I really want people to read it, even though I think I don't want them to? I do (I know this about myself) sometimes like to be the center of attention. How does that affect the freudian typo thing? Maybe there really is more to that than my boringly analytical self wants to admit? Maybe I'm the only one who seems to be taking it seriously at all anyway. Most of the people coming up on a "freudian typo" Google search are either being light-hearted (even tongue in cheek) or only finding them when they support some kind of political point. No one else is trying to analyze it. So I'll drop it, too.)
I also feel pretty good about being on the downhill slope to running the marathon. I've spent a lot of time and effort on it, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Especially since I gave myself permission to completely ignore my time. (I hope I can do that -- I feel better about the whole thing when I approach it that way.) It's remarkable how stressful it can be (for me, anyway) to worry about my time. When I think I'm running to get a fast time, I sort of dread how hard it will be. When I think I'm just going to go out to do it and finish and live the experience, I'm able to feel better about myself; pleased with the work I've done and the idea of accomplishing a marathon and the sensations associated with being out there with thousands of other people all engaged in this difficult endeavor.
I shouldn't be doing this right now. I should be entering grades. So that's what I'm going to do.
Later...
Monday, November 12, 2007
Off topic (Freudian typos)
Turns out there are a lot of people out there who think freudian typos are real. Real in the sense of revealing secret or subconscious thoughts or feelings or something along those lines. Maybe so.
I tend to be skeptical of everything. Perhaps too much so. About freudian typos, I'd like to see some research. Is there any? Right off the top of my head I can't think of any way to research it. But there are a lot of people out there who are a lot smarter than me. (Smarter than I?)
Here's my hesitation..... Just while typing what I've typed here so far, I've made about a dozen typos. Mostly they are things like the one I just did at the beginning of this sentence: typing "Mostyl" instead of Mostly." Now "Mostyl" doesn't mean anything, so I just fix it and move on. All my other typos in this post so far have been like that (I just typed "loke" instead of "like.") Eventually in the midst of my typical shower of typos, one will happen to spell something or sound like something. The Freudian Typo hypothesis would have me pick that one out and assume it means something, when the 30 other typos I just made ("madew" instead of "made") didn't seem like anything, so I just ignore them. Calling the ones that seem interesting freudian typos sounds a lot to me like the logical fallacy called "selection bias." You notice things that seem to fit a hypothesis (left out the "o" and had to go back and put it in) but ignore ("ifnore") the ones that are no fun, even though they are far more numerous ("numetous"). In fact, in this entire post (oops... there's one... "pose" instead of "post", meaning that by pretending to know ("knw") anything about this, I'm posing as an expert, or at least a thoughtful person) I've now made only one typo that seemed to be vaguely freudian.
What am I missing? When I googled it (freudian typos), I saw an article in a psychology journal about it, but I would have had to pay $7 to read it so I didn't.
I'll keep looking for information. I do not deny it or write it off, but as I said, I'm skeptical.
I tend to be skeptical of everything. Perhaps too much so. About freudian typos, I'd like to see some research. Is there any? Right off the top of my head I can't think of any way to research it. But there are a lot of people out there who are a lot smarter than me. (Smarter than I?)
Here's my hesitation..... Just while typing what I've typed here so far, I've made about a dozen typos. Mostly they are things like the one I just did at the beginning of this sentence: typing "Mostyl" instead of Mostly." Now "Mostyl" doesn't mean anything, so I just fix it and move on. All my other typos in this post so far have been like that (I just typed "loke" instead of "like.") Eventually in the midst of my typical shower of typos, one will happen to spell something or sound like something. The Freudian Typo hypothesis would have me pick that one out and assume it means something, when the 30 other typos I just made ("madew" instead of "made") didn't seem like anything, so I just ignore them. Calling the ones that seem interesting freudian typos sounds a lot to me like the logical fallacy called "selection bias." You notice things that seem to fit a hypothesis (left out the "o" and had to go back and put it in) but ignore ("ifnore") the ones that are no fun, even though they are far more numerous ("numetous"). In fact, in this entire post (oops... there's one... "pose" instead of "post", meaning that by pretending to know ("knw") anything about this, I'm posing as an expert, or at least a thoughtful person) I've now made only one typo that seemed to be vaguely freudian.
What am I missing? When I googled it (freudian typos), I saw an article in a psychology journal about it, but I would have had to pay $7 to read it so I didn't.
I'll keep looking for information. I do not deny it or write it off, but as I said, I'm skeptical.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Felt a little stiff today
I went out this morning for a really short run just to stretch the legs after yesterday. Just did 3 miles. I felt a bit better after that.
I'm not feeling as bad in my head today. Sure, I didn't think I did very well yesterday. But I did (sort of) 22 miles. That's past what everybody says is "the bad part" of the marathon. And after 22 miles, the White Rock is pretty much downhill. Literally. The topography slopes generally down. So that will make it easier, too. All I really have to do is keep my head at the start, take enough time through the water stops, and have enough Gu. Oh, and remember to shave so my band-aids stick. Yesterday after just 9.6 miles I was back at my car for a water stop, and happened to notice the front of my shirt. Blood. I mentioned the other day that I'd experienced chafing. Yesterday the band-aids came off after about 6 miles. It got pretty bad. I had several people actually ask if I knew I was bleeding. I was sorta embarrassed. (Too bad I wore that white shirt....) Fortunately in my running bag I had some Hydropel, which is about the consistency of petroleum jelly. I stuck the tube in my pocket and reapplied every few miles. That helped.
I think I'm going to set an appointment with a chiropractor who's been recommended. And I think I'm going to get another new pair of shoes. Hopefully I can do something before December 9 to help out my hip. Because I think that's another problem. When the hip hurts I believe I tend, understandably, to run a little lop-sided, which makes my opposite knee hurt. And it's sort of a domino effect. I don't know if that's what happened in Southeast Asia, but it happens in my body.
(Leadbelly singing Bourgeois Blues on Pandora. Love it.)
This is supposed to be a short week. So this Saturday I'll probably just do 15 miles. Probably just about 20 during the week. Then next weekend I'll do another 15 or so. Maybe even less. Like 12. I'll think about it. Because that is just a week and a day before the marathon. It really sneaks up on you. It used to be so far away. Now it's not anymore. Pretty deep thinking, I know.... (Mississippi John Hurt. I just picked the "Early Blues" genre station that was pre-programmed. Turns out it's great. There's a lot of good music out there.)
Anyway, it's getting late again. I didn't sleep very well at all last night. Even worse than usual. That makes me think, I have been sleeping better these last few weeks, once I finally get to bed. Sometimes it's a little late, but once I've gotten there I've generally slept reasonably well. Last night, back to not so hot. Who knows why...
Later....
I'm not feeling as bad in my head today. Sure, I didn't think I did very well yesterday. But I did (sort of) 22 miles. That's past what everybody says is "the bad part" of the marathon. And after 22 miles, the White Rock is pretty much downhill. Literally. The topography slopes generally down. So that will make it easier, too. All I really have to do is keep my head at the start, take enough time through the water stops, and have enough Gu. Oh, and remember to shave so my band-aids stick. Yesterday after just 9.6 miles I was back at my car for a water stop, and happened to notice the front of my shirt. Blood. I mentioned the other day that I'd experienced chafing. Yesterday the band-aids came off after about 6 miles. It got pretty bad. I had several people actually ask if I knew I was bleeding. I was sorta embarrassed. (Too bad I wore that white shirt....) Fortunately in my running bag I had some Hydropel, which is about the consistency of petroleum jelly. I stuck the tube in my pocket and reapplied every few miles. That helped.
I think I'm going to set an appointment with a chiropractor who's been recommended. And I think I'm going to get another new pair of shoes. Hopefully I can do something before December 9 to help out my hip. Because I think that's another problem. When the hip hurts I believe I tend, understandably, to run a little lop-sided, which makes my opposite knee hurt. And it's sort of a domino effect. I don't know if that's what happened in Southeast Asia, but it happens in my body.
(Leadbelly singing Bourgeois Blues on Pandora. Love it.)
This is supposed to be a short week. So this Saturday I'll probably just do 15 miles. Probably just about 20 during the week. Then next weekend I'll do another 15 or so. Maybe even less. Like 12. I'll think about it. Because that is just a week and a day before the marathon. It really sneaks up on you. It used to be so far away. Now it's not anymore. Pretty deep thinking, I know.... (Mississippi John Hurt. I just picked the "Early Blues" genre station that was pre-programmed. Turns out it's great. There's a lot of good music out there.)
Anyway, it's getting late again. I didn't sleep very well at all last night. Even worse than usual. That makes me think, I have been sleeping better these last few weeks, once I finally get to bed. Sometimes it's a little late, but once I've gotten there I've generally slept reasonably well. Last night, back to not so hot. Who knows why...
Later....
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Oh, my goodness....
I now know that I am not ready at all for this marathon. Yeah, I blazed (by my standard) the half. But 13.1 miles -- I now know with certainty -- is not really a very long run. After 18 miles my legs just want to stop working. I really don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe I'll just do a half again. But that would really bite.
After 18 miles today, my legs acted pretty much the same as they did 2 weeks ago when I "just" did 20 miles. I walked most of the mile between 18 and 19. Then I "ran" 19 to 20. then walked most of 20 to 21. From 21 to 22 I actually felt just a little bitsy bit better, but still was just doing about an 11 minute pace.
I've got one hope. Everyone says race day is different. My experience with the half bore that out. If I'm careful pacing myself -- I went out too fast today -- perhaps I'll last a little better. Some of my early miles were sub-9 minutes. That's too fast, and I know it. I think I may set a pace alarm on my Forerunner so it will beep when I start going faster than about 9:15 or 9:20. At the start, I'm fresh and feel like I can go all day at that fast speed. I really know better, but it's hard to convince myself of that at the time. And on race day it'll be even worse, because I'll be out there with a bunch of people who really can maintain that fast pace for the entire marathon. It's surprisingly hard to run slowly when you're feeling good.
So on the day of the marathon I'll be really careful about pacing. And I'll walk fairly slowly and for a longer time through each of the water stops. And I'll have more electrolyte replacement. Hopefully maintaining a more consistent pace (not having to actually stop and wait at water fountains) and having the advantage of being in a group of people to run with will make a difference and I'll get through the marathon better than I've gotten through these long runs. Is that just wishful thinking?
I know one thing for sure. Any thought I had of a 4:10 marathon are out the window. I don't care what "they" say. After today I don't even know if 4:30 is realistic. And that was my fallback position. I'm going back to saying "sub 5 hour." That's not unreasonable. After all, I am 50 years old and just started running this April. Sub 5 is nothing to be ashamed of. The way my legs feel right now, I am back to thinking just finishing will be achievement enough. It's easy to get complacent when little 6 mile runs start feeling pretty easy. There's more than just a quantitative difference between 6 and 26.
Gotta go run some errands now. I'm going to get one of those handheld mixer/ice crushers. Just can't enjoy the after-run drink without chopped ice. That may sound odd, but it's just going to be $25 or $30, and it will more than be worth it.
Later....
After 18 miles today, my legs acted pretty much the same as they did 2 weeks ago when I "just" did 20 miles. I walked most of the mile between 18 and 19. Then I "ran" 19 to 20. then walked most of 20 to 21. From 21 to 22 I actually felt just a little bitsy bit better, but still was just doing about an 11 minute pace.
I've got one hope. Everyone says race day is different. My experience with the half bore that out. If I'm careful pacing myself -- I went out too fast today -- perhaps I'll last a little better. Some of my early miles were sub-9 minutes. That's too fast, and I know it. I think I may set a pace alarm on my Forerunner so it will beep when I start going faster than about 9:15 or 9:20. At the start, I'm fresh and feel like I can go all day at that fast speed. I really know better, but it's hard to convince myself of that at the time. And on race day it'll be even worse, because I'll be out there with a bunch of people who really can maintain that fast pace for the entire marathon. It's surprisingly hard to run slowly when you're feeling good.
So on the day of the marathon I'll be really careful about pacing. And I'll walk fairly slowly and for a longer time through each of the water stops. And I'll have more electrolyte replacement. Hopefully maintaining a more consistent pace (not having to actually stop and wait at water fountains) and having the advantage of being in a group of people to run with will make a difference and I'll get through the marathon better than I've gotten through these long runs. Is that just wishful thinking?
I know one thing for sure. Any thought I had of a 4:10 marathon are out the window. I don't care what "they" say. After today I don't even know if 4:30 is realistic. And that was my fallback position. I'm going back to saying "sub 5 hour." That's not unreasonable. After all, I am 50 years old and just started running this April. Sub 5 is nothing to be ashamed of. The way my legs feel right now, I am back to thinking just finishing will be achievement enough. It's easy to get complacent when little 6 mile runs start feeling pretty easy. There's more than just a quantitative difference between 6 and 26.
Gotta go run some errands now. I'm going to get one of those handheld mixer/ice crushers. Just can't enjoy the after-run drink without chopped ice. That may sound odd, but it's just going to be $25 or $30, and it will more than be worth it.
Later....
Friday, November 9, 2007
22 miles tomorrow....
.... and I don't really know how it's going to go. I've tried to eat right the last day and a half or so, and will be ready to eat and drink on the run. Hopefully it will go better than the 20 miler 2 weeks ago. It can't go much worse unless I fall and break my ankle. I'm going to bed now, so I should be well rested. It will be hot, though. Not looking forward to that at all. And my hip isn't really right, still. I'm going to slow down and try to reduce pounding on it. But going slower means I'm out there longer. Catch 22.
I was talking to some folks tonight, and the marathon came up, as it always does these days. (Perhaps I'm too focused on it? Yes, but other people bring it up and ask questions. That's what happened today. Twice.) Anyway, the topic was how fast I would run the marathon. One said half marathon time multiplied by 2, plus 10 minutes. That would be 4:02:24. The other said half marathon pace plus 30 seconds. That would be 4:05:35. My expectation is that I'll go significantly slower than that. There would be a certain panache to having such a (to me) fast time. But I really truly don't care. Sure, fast is good. But finish is more important. I definitely plan to walk longer and more slowly through water stops. In the half, I really wanted to finish under 2 hours. That was a very clear number, and it would have "felt bad" to finish outside 2 hours. But to me there's no real psychological difference between a 4:05 and a 4:15 or 4:20. If I go over 4:30 I'll be a little bit disappointed, I suppose because once again that's an identifiable timing break point. What it boils down to is my hip. If I feel OK, I'll go a little faster. If the hip is bothering me, I'll go a bit slower.
Anyway, I'm hitting the hay now. Fingers crossed that tomorrow goes OK. If it doesn't, I'm going to start worrying about the race. It's just a few weeks away.
Later...
I was talking to some folks tonight, and the marathon came up, as it always does these days. (Perhaps I'm too focused on it? Yes, but other people bring it up and ask questions. That's what happened today. Twice.) Anyway, the topic was how fast I would run the marathon. One said half marathon time multiplied by 2, plus 10 minutes. That would be 4:02:24. The other said half marathon pace plus 30 seconds. That would be 4:05:35. My expectation is that I'll go significantly slower than that. There would be a certain panache to having such a (to me) fast time. But I really truly don't care. Sure, fast is good. But finish is more important. I definitely plan to walk longer and more slowly through water stops. In the half, I really wanted to finish under 2 hours. That was a very clear number, and it would have "felt bad" to finish outside 2 hours. But to me there's no real psychological difference between a 4:05 and a 4:15 or 4:20. If I go over 4:30 I'll be a little bit disappointed, I suppose because once again that's an identifiable timing break point. What it boils down to is my hip. If I feel OK, I'll go a little faster. If the hip is bothering me, I'll go a bit slower.
Anyway, I'm hitting the hay now. Fingers crossed that tomorrow goes OK. If it doesn't, I'm going to start worrying about the race. It's just a few weeks away.
Later...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
What to do now
I did 3 miles Monday, took Tuesday off, and did 6 miles last night. Running 6 miles is no problem, though when I say that, I still shake my head in bewilderment. It's still hard to imagine that I'm running, and fit enough that running 6 miles is not really a significant effort. Of course, it's largely about the speed at which I run. All the training guides say you should run at a conversational pace for most of your runs. Near the end of a run it's much less conversational, even on my "easy" 6 mile runs.
(I just typed "ruins" instead of "runs." My friend Jennifer and I once had a conversation during which she expressed the opinion that typos like that at least frequently are subliminally significant. I frequently make typos that, if left uncorrected, would be humorous or troubling. Are those truly windows into my subconscious? I don't know. (At least that's how I remember the conversation.) Perhaps I could google some research on it. But I wouldn't really know what to search for. Freudian typos? Typing malapropisms? Is there really a difference between a Freudian slip and a malapropism? Especially to the one who commits the error, as opposed to the one who attempts to "interpret" the mistake?)
The reason for this post is the pain in my leg and hip. I'm afraid that -- in spite of my satisfaction with my half marathon time -- over twice the distance the problem will become so severe that I'll be forced to drop out. I don't want to do that. I suppose this weekend's really long run will give me a good hint about my ability to complete a marathon. (Most training plans have at least 2 runs of the length I'm doing this Saturday, but I'm going to do it only once, partly because of my questionably hip.) It will also be a good chance to try out my fueling plan.
Got to go to class now -- giving a test -- so can't complete my thoughts now. Could save a draft, but I think I'll publish and come back again later to continue.
Later...
(I just typed "ruins" instead of "runs." My friend Jennifer and I once had a conversation during which she expressed the opinion that typos like that at least frequently are subliminally significant. I frequently make typos that, if left uncorrected, would be humorous or troubling. Are those truly windows into my subconscious? I don't know. (At least that's how I remember the conversation.) Perhaps I could google some research on it. But I wouldn't really know what to search for. Freudian typos? Typing malapropisms? Is there really a difference between a Freudian slip and a malapropism? Especially to the one who commits the error, as opposed to the one who attempts to "interpret" the mistake?)
The reason for this post is the pain in my leg and hip. I'm afraid that -- in spite of my satisfaction with my half marathon time -- over twice the distance the problem will become so severe that I'll be forced to drop out. I don't want to do that. I suppose this weekend's really long run will give me a good hint about my ability to complete a marathon. (Most training plans have at least 2 runs of the length I'm doing this Saturday, but I'm going to do it only once, partly because of my questionably hip.) It will also be a good chance to try out my fueling plan.
Got to go to class now -- giving a test -- so can't complete my thoughts now. Could save a draft, but I think I'll publish and come back again later to continue.
Later...
Sunday, November 4, 2007
News flash....
Times are posted. My gun time was 1:57:39, or an 8:58 pace. My chip time was 1:56:05, or an 8:51 pace.
I'm very pleased with that time. I've certainly come a long way since April. Of course, to put it in perspective, I was only 51st out of 119 in my age group. The winner of my age group was a 6:42 pace. I'll never be that fast. And that does not bother me at all.
Anyway. It's interesting to me.
G'night, Chet.
I'm very pleased with that time. I've certainly come a long way since April. Of course, to put it in perspective, I was only 51st out of 119 in my age group. The winner of my age group was a 6:42 pace. I'll never be that fast. And that does not bother me at all.
Anyway. It's interesting to me.
G'night, Chet.
One more thing....
I forgot to mention that I ended the run with a sore right hip. I've been sort of struggling with it for a few weeks, but it had been getting better. After today it's much worse. I suppose because I ran faster than usual. I can't really afford to take time off, though, so I hope tomorrow it feels better.
I've heard all kinds of things. The most likely seems to be "IT Band" inflammation. One guy who's in REI a lot and seems to know what he's talking about -- he's a personal trainer or something (does that mean he's qualified?) says I need to get some kind of roller on which I can lay down on my side with my legs straight out and roll up and down to do something to the IT Band. (I know that wasn't very descriptive.)
Anyway, I'll see how it feels during my run tomorrow night.
And they still haven't posted the results on the DRCHalf web site. Drat....
I've heard all kinds of things. The most likely seems to be "IT Band" inflammation. One guy who's in REI a lot and seems to know what he's talking about -- he's a personal trainer or something (does that mean he's qualified?) says I need to get some kind of roller on which I can lay down on my side with my legs straight out and roll up and down to do something to the IT Band. (I know that wasn't very descriptive.)
Anyway, I'll see how it feels during my run tomorrow night.
And they still haven't posted the results on the DRCHalf web site. Drat....
Half Marathon Down
Well, I did The Half today. It actually went pretty well. I think I mentioned that I didn't know what time to expect. I was hoping it would go well, but I wasn't sure how to define "well."
As it turned out, I did about as well as I thought it was possible for me to do. (If I were really truly competitive, I'd probably say that those thoughts were what limited my performance to what it was. More positive thinking would have resulted in a faster time. More on that later -- perhaps.)
Anyway, I don't know my exact time yet. I won't know it till they post it on the web site. But I did at least a 1:58. I managed a sub-2 hour Half. I'm pretty excited about it. That time is based on my trying to look at the big digital readout over the finish line as I came across. I think it was actually a little under 1:58. And that would be "gun time." The real race is based on gun time: the time from when the gun goes off at the start. MY real time, though, the one I care about, will be my "chip time." Everybody wears timing chips: little transponders you tie to your shoelace. There are mats with receivers at the start and the finish (this race had no intermediate times available) that you run across, and so you know exactly what your time was from when you personally crossed the start and finish lines. I was about mid-way back in the pack of several thousand runners at the start, so there was some gap between the gun start and when I crossed the start. When the results are posted, I'll be able to see both my gun time and my chip time. Can't wait!!
ADULT CONTENT WARNING!! If you can't handle it, stop reading now!
My preparation was good, I think, except for one major problem. The preparation I'm talking about now is my actually race day preparation. I laid out all the clothes and gear I'd need, and set aside gels, and made sure I'd set my clock (time changed, remember...) and thought I was all set. Except for one important thing. I forgot to affix my band-aids. I didn't remember it till it was about 5 minutes pre-start, and too late to do anything about it. It was not a noticeable problem till about the 10 mile mark, and I'd forgotten it again, so I forgot to dread it. Is this a mystery? What band-aids? The problem is one I've had to deal with since I started training. Nipple chafing. When I sweat, which I do a lot, and my shirt gets sodden and heavy, which it always does, and I'm running, the shirt bounces up and down, and it chafes. Perhaps you'll never have the experience of showering with this particular affliction. I hope you don't. You wouldn't like it, I promise.
So at about 10 miles I started noticing a little stinging. I thought, "Darn!" (or words to that effect). The last 3 miles were progressively worse. But naturally there's nothing to be done at that point but try to ignore it.
End of adult content....
The actual run was fine. It is pretty hard, though. A few small hills. I did follow my plan and walk through all the water stops. That lets me drink more comfortably (without aspirating Gatorade, which I saw several people do) and gives me a little rest. The water stop at 12 miles was particularly welcome. I wish they'd flip the stops, though. Each stop is a series of tables with cups of drinks being handed out by volunteers. They hand out water first, and then Gatorade. I'd rather have Gatorade first, and then water, to get the sweetness out of my mouth. It took me (remember, this was my first race of this type) a couple of stops to figure out that I needed to take one cup of water to drink and another to carry for a minute, then get a cup of Gatorade to drink, and follow with the second cup of water. They've been doing this race and others for a long long time, so I assume there's a reason they do it the way they do. I think I may still e-mail them and ask about it, though.
It is fun to have people yelling by the side of the road. There are a lot of people out with signs for Mom or Dad, and there are groups like Team in Training who have people out cheering for their runners. It is a boost, even if they're not yelling for you personally.
I'm tired and going to stop. This is enough anyway. I'll sign off by repeating something I've heard repeatedly is one of the best things about running. One reason to run is that it feels so good when you stop.
Later...
As it turned out, I did about as well as I thought it was possible for me to do. (If I were really truly competitive, I'd probably say that those thoughts were what limited my performance to what it was. More positive thinking would have resulted in a faster time. More on that later -- perhaps.)
Anyway, I don't know my exact time yet. I won't know it till they post it on the web site. But I did at least a 1:58. I managed a sub-2 hour Half. I'm pretty excited about it. That time is based on my trying to look at the big digital readout over the finish line as I came across. I think it was actually a little under 1:58. And that would be "gun time." The real race is based on gun time: the time from when the gun goes off at the start. MY real time, though, the one I care about, will be my "chip time." Everybody wears timing chips: little transponders you tie to your shoelace. There are mats with receivers at the start and the finish (this race had no intermediate times available) that you run across, and so you know exactly what your time was from when you personally crossed the start and finish lines. I was about mid-way back in the pack of several thousand runners at the start, so there was some gap between the gun start and when I crossed the start. When the results are posted, I'll be able to see both my gun time and my chip time. Can't wait!!
ADULT CONTENT WARNING!! If you can't handle it, stop reading now!
My preparation was good, I think, except for one major problem. The preparation I'm talking about now is my actually race day preparation. I laid out all the clothes and gear I'd need, and set aside gels, and made sure I'd set my clock (time changed, remember...) and thought I was all set. Except for one important thing. I forgot to affix my band-aids. I didn't remember it till it was about 5 minutes pre-start, and too late to do anything about it. It was not a noticeable problem till about the 10 mile mark, and I'd forgotten it again, so I forgot to dread it. Is this a mystery? What band-aids? The problem is one I've had to deal with since I started training. Nipple chafing. When I sweat, which I do a lot, and my shirt gets sodden and heavy, which it always does, and I'm running, the shirt bounces up and down, and it chafes. Perhaps you'll never have the experience of showering with this particular affliction. I hope you don't. You wouldn't like it, I promise.
So at about 10 miles I started noticing a little stinging. I thought, "Darn!" (or words to that effect). The last 3 miles were progressively worse. But naturally there's nothing to be done at that point but try to ignore it.
End of adult content....
The actual run was fine. It is pretty hard, though. A few small hills. I did follow my plan and walk through all the water stops. That lets me drink more comfortably (without aspirating Gatorade, which I saw several people do) and gives me a little rest. The water stop at 12 miles was particularly welcome. I wish they'd flip the stops, though. Each stop is a series of tables with cups of drinks being handed out by volunteers. They hand out water first, and then Gatorade. I'd rather have Gatorade first, and then water, to get the sweetness out of my mouth. It took me (remember, this was my first race of this type) a couple of stops to figure out that I needed to take one cup of water to drink and another to carry for a minute, then get a cup of Gatorade to drink, and follow with the second cup of water. They've been doing this race and others for a long long time, so I assume there's a reason they do it the way they do. I think I may still e-mail them and ask about it, though.
It is fun to have people yelling by the side of the road. There are a lot of people out with signs for Mom or Dad, and there are groups like Team in Training who have people out cheering for their runners. It is a boost, even if they're not yelling for you personally.
I'm tired and going to stop. This is enough anyway. I'll sign off by repeating something I've heard repeatedly is one of the best things about running. One reason to run is that it feels so good when you stop.
Later...
Saturday, November 3, 2007
A few other thoughts
It's odd, making two posts in a day.
I was just thinking, though, about Kish, my friend who's in Antarctica now. (My friend Deneen is in Antarctica as well. I was thinking about her, too, because I'm sending a package. These days, and probably forever (though I'll leave that up to them) where Kish is, Deneen is sure to be somewhere nearby (or vice versa)).
Anyway, I was thinking about Kish because before he and D left for the great cold South this year, we had talked about training together from a distance. I would train for the White Rock here, and Steve would train for the Antarctica Marathon there. Yes, there's actually an Antarctic Marathon. And not a "fake" one run in a building on treadmills. Actually out on the ice. Unfortunately, as it's turned out, Steve has not been able to train. I'm not there, of course, but as I hear it it's not really Steve's fault, or because of any lack of dedication or willingness, but because his job has made it impossible. He's still climbed Ob Hill about a thousand times, and is keeping in some training, but the marathon didn't work out. It's a shame. It would have been fun to have done it "together." Maybe, if I win the Lotto, I'll do the Antarctic Marathon myself someday. (I say "if I win the Lotto" because I understand it costs tens of thousands of dollars to do it. Transportation is difficult and expensive. It's apparently much worse than those regular tourist trips, cost-wise, and they are not cheap.)
In any event, I spent my volunteer shift mostly unpacking several thousand finisher's medals. Then I did a short run, as I said. Then I came home and had a big pasta dinner with a big boneless skinless chicken breast grilled on my trusty George Foreman, and a Shiner Bock. The perfect pre-Half meal. Now I'm doing school work, and taking a break to type in this blog. Anything to avoid doing what I should be doing... (Larry Sparks doing My Lord. Bluegrass just feels so genuine to me. I love folk, but it can seem so self-righteous sometimes. Rock and modern country are so often -- at least in my ear or imagination -- so commercial and produced that they sound more like politicians than musicians. Jazz is better, but it can be so ethereal and inaccessible (at least modern jazz can, except when I'm really in the mood). Big Band jazz is fun, but can seem too naive -- except for Begin the Beguine, my fav all time big band piece... just something about it. OK, OK, too much of that....)
I didn't feel very good running today. I just went 3 miles, as I said, but it wasn't an easy jog. I hope it's better tomorrow. I'm staying off my feet tonight, and I'll have an extra hour of sleep tonight, so I hope that makes it all OK.
Oh, and I was really sad to hear what happened in the U.S. Men's Olympic marathon trials today. It was the race to determine who goes to the Beijing Olympics next summer. Ryan Shay, one of the men thought to have a chance to make it (finish in the top 3) collapsed and died after just 5 1/2 miles. Of course, it was a terrible shock for everyone. He'd just gotten married a few months ago. No hint of any health problems. I suppose that when it's time, it's time. Even for elite athletes who can run sub-5 miles for 26.2. I'm going to be careful. Not push too hard and stay fueled and hydrated. I'm not worried, though. Nothing I can do about it anyway.
Going to get back to work now. Wish me luck....
Later...
I was just thinking, though, about Kish, my friend who's in Antarctica now. (My friend Deneen is in Antarctica as well. I was thinking about her, too, because I'm sending a package. These days, and probably forever (though I'll leave that up to them) where Kish is, Deneen is sure to be somewhere nearby (or vice versa)).
Anyway, I was thinking about Kish because before he and D left for the great cold South this year, we had talked about training together from a distance. I would train for the White Rock here, and Steve would train for the Antarctica Marathon there. Yes, there's actually an Antarctic Marathon. And not a "fake" one run in a building on treadmills. Actually out on the ice. Unfortunately, as it's turned out, Steve has not been able to train. I'm not there, of course, but as I hear it it's not really Steve's fault, or because of any lack of dedication or willingness, but because his job has made it impossible. He's still climbed Ob Hill about a thousand times, and is keeping in some training, but the marathon didn't work out. It's a shame. It would have been fun to have done it "together." Maybe, if I win the Lotto, I'll do the Antarctic Marathon myself someday. (I say "if I win the Lotto" because I understand it costs tens of thousands of dollars to do it. Transportation is difficult and expensive. It's apparently much worse than those regular tourist trips, cost-wise, and they are not cheap.)
In any event, I spent my volunteer shift mostly unpacking several thousand finisher's medals. Then I did a short run, as I said. Then I came home and had a big pasta dinner with a big boneless skinless chicken breast grilled on my trusty George Foreman, and a Shiner Bock. The perfect pre-Half meal. Now I'm doing school work, and taking a break to type in this blog. Anything to avoid doing what I should be doing... (Larry Sparks doing My Lord. Bluegrass just feels so genuine to me. I love folk, but it can seem so self-righteous sometimes. Rock and modern country are so often -- at least in my ear or imagination -- so commercial and produced that they sound more like politicians than musicians. Jazz is better, but it can be so ethereal and inaccessible (at least modern jazz can, except when I'm really in the mood). Big Band jazz is fun, but can seem too naive -- except for Begin the Beguine, my fav all time big band piece... just something about it. OK, OK, too much of that....)
I didn't feel very good running today. I just went 3 miles, as I said, but it wasn't an easy jog. I hope it's better tomorrow. I'm staying off my feet tonight, and I'll have an extra hour of sleep tonight, so I hope that makes it all OK.
Oh, and I was really sad to hear what happened in the U.S. Men's Olympic marathon trials today. It was the race to determine who goes to the Beijing Olympics next summer. Ryan Shay, one of the men thought to have a chance to make it (finish in the top 3) collapsed and died after just 5 1/2 miles. Of course, it was a terrible shock for everyone. He'd just gotten married a few months ago. No hint of any health problems. I suppose that when it's time, it's time. Even for elite athletes who can run sub-5 miles for 26.2. I'm going to be careful. Not push too hard and stay fueled and hydrated. I'm not worried, though. Nothing I can do about it anyway.
Going to get back to work now. Wish me luck....
Later...
Race tomorrow
Well, The Half is tomorrow. I'm as ready as I'm going to be. I'm about to leave to go down to the race start/finish, because I volunteered to help out setting up the course. It takes a lot of people and organization to put on a big race. You can imagine, with thousands of people out there running. Just doing the Aid stations is a major effort. So I've been trying to do my part by volunteering at races whenever I can. I'll be out there for about 4 hours today, they say. I don't know what I'll be doing, but I asked not to be set to do any heavy lifting. I'm going to go out tomorrow morning, too, to help hand out timing chips. I figured it would take my mind off being nervous (in case that was a problem), and they said I'd be released a half hour before the start, so I can get stretched out and warmed up.
After my stint today, I'll do a short run just to get the juices flowing. Just 2 or 3 miles. It's funny. When I started, I was really proud of myself for making 3 miles. The track at Richland is .75 miles long. Someone had told me it was .5 miles. So I went out and ran 4 laps, thinking it was 2 miles. I then ran into someone who told me the real distance, and I was shocked, but pleased that I had run all that way. (That also shows how clueless I was -- not knowing the difference between 2 and 3 miles. I'm still sort of clueless about that stuff, though. That's partly why I've given my self permission to buy some of the expensive "toys" (training aids) that I have.)
Anyway, 3 miles was a long way back then. Now, it almost seems like "Only 3 miles? Why even bother going out for just 3 miles?" I think it'll be a good thing to do, though.
But I've got to run.... so to speak. ;-)
Later....
After my stint today, I'll do a short run just to get the juices flowing. Just 2 or 3 miles. It's funny. When I started, I was really proud of myself for making 3 miles. The track at Richland is .75 miles long. Someone had told me it was .5 miles. So I went out and ran 4 laps, thinking it was 2 miles. I then ran into someone who told me the real distance, and I was shocked, but pleased that I had run all that way. (That also shows how clueless I was -- not knowing the difference between 2 and 3 miles. I'm still sort of clueless about that stuff, though. That's partly why I've given my self permission to buy some of the expensive "toys" (training aids) that I have.)
Anyway, 3 miles was a long way back then. Now, it almost seems like "Only 3 miles? Why even bother going out for just 3 miles?" I think it'll be a good thing to do, though.
But I've got to run.... so to speak. ;-)
Later....
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tapering?
Another thing I don't know. I think I talked in the last installment about how the list of things I don't know is so long and yet is growing so rapidly. Tonight's "Thing I Don't Know" is what to do about this Sunday's race. When I started running, this race, the "DRC Half," became my first goal race. Now that I'm here, though, the race is essentially going to be just a "short week" of my training buildup to the marathon in December. I don't know how fast I can run it, and I don't know how fast I should try to run it.
My training schedule shows a long slow run this weekend. Technically, I should do a longer and slower run than I'll probably do (but shorter than last weekend's run). The truth is I don't think it really matters very much. If I were trying to beat some fast goal time in the marathon it would be more important. In the event, though, the only reason it matters is that I somehow have the sense that it should matter. I should be taking this seriously. It's a marathon, after all. Not only is it really hard to do, but it's somehow a sacred trust. I have to honor the race. That's a significant overstatement of how I really see it, but my heart leans in that direction. I don't want to go out there and "just finish." I've been saying ever since I started training to whomever would listen -- including myself -- that that was/is my goal: just finishing. When I finish, whatever my time is, I know I'll feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. But if I don't have a reasonable time, I know there will be some element of disappointment mixed in.
What's a reasonable time? I haven't settled on that yet. When I first started, my goal really was "just finish." When I started getting a little more fit, I started thinking maybe I'd shoot for a sub-5 hour finish. But now that sounds really slow. Five hours is an 11:26 pace. The only way I could go that slowly is if I have a total meltdown and walk a significant portion of the race.
Even a 4:30 is a 10:17 pace. I've been running faster than that, and should be able to beat 4:30, assuming I learned a lesson from last Saturday's long slog and fuel appropriately during the race. Maybe a 4:20? I really don't know.
Some marathoners have told me about race-day adrenaline and running with 10,000 people, and how that will make me go faster. I can't really see that. Maybe it's true. But I don't see how that lasts for 26.2 miles. Maybe for a shorter race. But over a marathon, that stuff has got to wear off, and I'll be left with myself out there, alone in a crowd. For better or worse, I'll do whatever I do based on my fitness and my persistence. Not based on what others around me are doing.
(Tom Waits on Pandora. I'm not doing the bluegrass station tonight.... Tom Waits is an odd guy. I loved his part in Mystery Men. My favorite superhero is The Shoveler from Mystery Men. "He shovels better than anybody.")
But what about the ....
(ohmigosh -- last interruption -- Elvis Costello singing Almost Blue. Fabulous.)
.... half marathon this Sunday? By the way, Debbie Fetterman called me today. She wanted to check in before the Half. I don't know if she's wrting a follow-up or not. What will my time be? I have no idea. Theoretically, I could do a sub 2. Monday night I ran a loop -- about 9.3 miles -- at a 9:09 pace. That pace is exactly a 2 hour Half. And that was alone, after a full day at work, with no carbo-loading, and stopping at water fountains. Race day I'll be fresh and won't have to stop, because I'll be able to keep moving through water stations. So, theoretically again, I could go faster race day. Or at least not slower. But the truth is I just don't know how it will go. I think I'll look more toward maybe a 2:05 or even a 2:10. I shouldn't go that slow. But races like that are still a sort of mystery to me. What if I burn a lot of energy just on excitement? What about the huge crowd slowing me down? I just don't know.
One thing I do know is that if I don't get to bed I'll sleep through the race. (Isn't that the night of the time change?) (Remind me next time to tell you what I think is a weird mental thing related to joint and muscle pain while I'm running.) (Love Jimmy Buffett music -- Banana Republic is on now....)
Later...
My training schedule shows a long slow run this weekend. Technically, I should do a longer and slower run than I'll probably do (but shorter than last weekend's run). The truth is I don't think it really matters very much. If I were trying to beat some fast goal time in the marathon it would be more important. In the event, though, the only reason it matters is that I somehow have the sense that it should matter. I should be taking this seriously. It's a marathon, after all. Not only is it really hard to do, but it's somehow a sacred trust. I have to honor the race. That's a significant overstatement of how I really see it, but my heart leans in that direction. I don't want to go out there and "just finish." I've been saying ever since I started training to whomever would listen -- including myself -- that that was/is my goal: just finishing. When I finish, whatever my time is, I know I'll feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. But if I don't have a reasonable time, I know there will be some element of disappointment mixed in.
What's a reasonable time? I haven't settled on that yet. When I first started, my goal really was "just finish." When I started getting a little more fit, I started thinking maybe I'd shoot for a sub-5 hour finish. But now that sounds really slow. Five hours is an 11:26 pace. The only way I could go that slowly is if I have a total meltdown and walk a significant portion of the race.
Even a 4:30 is a 10:17 pace. I've been running faster than that, and should be able to beat 4:30, assuming I learned a lesson from last Saturday's long slog and fuel appropriately during the race. Maybe a 4:20? I really don't know.
Some marathoners have told me about race-day adrenaline and running with 10,000 people, and how that will make me go faster. I can't really see that. Maybe it's true. But I don't see how that lasts for 26.2 miles. Maybe for a shorter race. But over a marathon, that stuff has got to wear off, and I'll be left with myself out there, alone in a crowd. For better or worse, I'll do whatever I do based on my fitness and my persistence. Not based on what others around me are doing.
(Tom Waits on Pandora. I'm not doing the bluegrass station tonight.... Tom Waits is an odd guy. I loved his part in Mystery Men. My favorite superhero is The Shoveler from Mystery Men. "He shovels better than anybody.")
But what about the ....
(ohmigosh -- last interruption -- Elvis Costello singing Almost Blue. Fabulous.)
.... half marathon this Sunday? By the way, Debbie Fetterman called me today. She wanted to check in before the Half. I don't know if she's wrting a follow-up or not. What will my time be? I have no idea. Theoretically, I could do a sub 2. Monday night I ran a loop -- about 9.3 miles -- at a 9:09 pace. That pace is exactly a 2 hour Half. And that was alone, after a full day at work, with no carbo-loading, and stopping at water fountains. Race day I'll be fresh and won't have to stop, because I'll be able to keep moving through water stations. So, theoretically again, I could go faster race day. Or at least not slower. But the truth is I just don't know how it will go. I think I'll look more toward maybe a 2:05 or even a 2:10. I shouldn't go that slow. But races like that are still a sort of mystery to me. What if I burn a lot of energy just on excitement? What about the huge crowd slowing me down? I just don't know.
One thing I do know is that if I don't get to bed I'll sleep through the race. (Isn't that the night of the time change?) (Remind me next time to tell you what I think is a weird mental thing related to joint and muscle pain while I'm running.) (Love Jimmy Buffett music -- Banana Republic is on now....)
Later...
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