Aches and Pains

I’ve been struggling just a little (not that that’s anything new). Last Wednesday I did 9 miles, and my left knee was weird. It sort of felt like there was a bubble behind my kneecap. I don’t know what that means, or even what it could mean. So I just ignored it and went on. After the run I was hobbling a bit. But by the next morning, it was as good as new. So I guess it was nothing.

There have been a lot of little aches and pains and oddities like that. They are part of the reason for doing this blog. I don’t know how any of that works. “That” is how my – or, I suppose, any – body operates under the stress of running. It’s quite a pounding, particularly on the pavement. (Some of my “customer friends” at REI tell me I should be trail running. Makes sense to run on a softer surface, I guess. But I’ve gotta do at least one “real” marathon. Then we’ll see what happens.) But I don’t really have anyone to talk to about it. And I think I work things out better if I write them or talk about them, as opposed to just sitting thinking about them. I always admired Hercule Poirot, because he could just sit there and figure stuff out. But I’ll never be Hercule. So I’m writing the blog, not expecting that anyone will ever see it (how would anyone just accidentally come across it with the whole internet out there?) just to vent and work through thoughts and feelings and ideas. Not that I’ll type them all….

Well, I did a 20 mile run yesterday. Actually, to be honest, I did about a 19 mile run and about a 1 mile walk. I just ran out of gas. I didn't eat anything, and I learned that I can't run 20 miles without eating something. What I craved after about 15 miles was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I suspect that might not be the best thing. But I've got to figure out what will work. I think my training has been fine. I'm feeling pretty much fit for the marathon. EXCEPT that I've got to learn how to refuel during the run. I suppose I could just do a bunch of GUs. I kinda think that's what a lot of people do. Somehow it doesn’t feel right. Not natural, somehow. I’m not “morally opposed” to GU. I’ve used it a lot on the bike. (Actually, to be precise, I prefer PowerGel. The texture is thinner and it goes down easier.) But it somehow seems like it would be better to refuel from food. Silly, perhaps. I know it would be a lot easier to carry a few GU packets than a PB&J or two.

I have a completely black toenail. I never thought about having “Morton’s Toe.” I think that’s the name of the situation when “this little piggy stayed home” is longer than “this little piggy went to market.” Homebody toenail is black. It’s been getting darker for a couple of weeks now. I suppose pretty soon it will come off. Most runners (it seems) have lost toenails at one time or another. It is a little tender, but not so much that it bothers me. I’ve thought my shoes fit pretty well. I guess not so much. Either that or even when shoes fit, if you run 18 or 20 miles, your longest toe is going to hit the front of your shoe often enough to blacken the nail.

Shoes. That’s been one of the biggest issues I’ve had. Am I a pronator? Am I neutral? Do I need “motion control” or “stability” or “cushioning?” I have no idea. The running shops are supposed to help with that. But I think I got bad advice.

(Slim Whitman is yodeling on my Pandora bluegrass station. I think I’m going to do a thumbs down. How much difference does a thumbs up or a thumbs down really make when the computer chooses future songs? I don’t know.)

(I’m always discovering more and more and more things I don’t know.)

I ran into a chiropractor the other day who tells me I definitely don’t need the motion control shoes Run On! (the running shop) recommended for me.

(Pandora decided on Hank Snow after Slim Whitman. That’s not exactly right either, but it’s OK.)

I’ve been through 6 pairs of shoes since I started running, and I’m not satisfied that I’ve got the right thing. My favorite ones are a pair of Brooks. But they STINK!!! I mean, I’ve always had smelly feet. I know what that’s all about. But this pair of shoes is something special. Even I can’t stand to be in the same room with them. It’s remarkable.

I really need to get on the schoolwork. So I’ll stop. At least this one wasn’t at midnight. It’s a good thing no one’s going to read this. They wouldn’t be able to. Looking back over this post, I suppose the best I can say is…. ADD!!

I really want to talk about my Forerunner and races and other things. I’ll get to them sometime.

(The Stanley Brothers now. They are what I was looking for when I set up this channel. Old traditional root high lonesome bluegrass. I just love that music. I could listen all day. But I can never listen around other people. They always complain. Why is that?)

(I feel so different from most of the world. It’s lonely sometimes. (I'm sure it's the same way everybody feels sometimes. Which means one of the ways we're all the same is that we all feel different? Is that one reason people are drawn to religion?) I know there are millions of people who love bluegrass like I do. But I don’t know any of them. Last weekend we did the “Eagle Rock Marathon.” (a story for another time) There was this old guy (75?) in the campsite next to us playing a banjo. I left my friends and went over to listen to him play. John came with me. He played and I asked him to play a bunch of songs and he knew most of them and it was great. He was there hunting and had shot a "big hog" with a black powder rifle earlier in the day. I gave him my address, and he said he’d send a CD. But most of my friends just complained about the noisy banjo.)

(No one wants to listen to opera, either, now that I think about it. But saying that makes me feel like I’m being smug. “No one else appreciates music the way I do.” Bullshit. Get over yourself, Patrick.) (Is this whole blog thing just being smug? Wanting to hold the microphone?)

(But it’s true that almost no one wants to listen to either bluegrass or opera with me. Smug or not.)

(Laurel Canyon Ramblers doing “Heaven Bound” now. Great bluegrass gospel.)

Anyway, I promise next time I'll stick to the running.