6:00AM. Dark outside. Windy outside. Thermomator reads 42 degrees outside. Bed is warm. What do you do? Don’t even think, just put your feet on the floor and grab your gear. You are a runner!
It’s those moments that define your dedication. If you are a runner, you run. I run.
If you consider yourself a “real runner” you have probably heard of the 1978 classic “Running & Being” by George Sheehan. For decades it has been considered the book that helped launch the popular running movement. Unfortunately, I must admit I had never read it. I’ve heard of it and meant to read it, but never did. So when it was mentioned in a recent Runner’s World article I decided I had to visit my local library. I found they had the updated 20th Anniversary version titled “Running & Being: The Total Experience” which includes an updated forward. If by chance you have not read it, let me warn you. It isn’t exactly a “How To” book. Yes, there are tips and suggestions but it is mostly philosophical. Sheehan appears to be an expert on the great philosophers and ancient thinkers and he quotes them often. If you enjoy the mental benefits of running (don’t we all?) then this book helps validate that feeling and tries to explain that connection. If for some reason you are just running for the physical health benefits then, frankly, you may find this book a bit boring or too “deep”. It can make you think if you want but it takes some work. I read it mostly at a surface level without taking lots of time to ponder or debate his point of view and I enjoyed it at that level. It was interesting to thnk about the community of distance runners and how we are different (which we are). This book makes that point abundantly clear. It did make me want to keep “Running & Being”.
I’ve been running at approximately the same time in the morning for several years now. Most mornings I pass many of the same people as they run or walk their dogs. We acknowledge each other with a head nod, or a hand wave or for some a “Good Morning”. I’m not sure how people decide who to nod to, who to wave to and who to speak to. But for some reason it appears that once you put the other person into one of those categories it’s rare that they move to another level. Meaning the guy in the ball cap that runs toward me most mornings has always been a head nod and never a wave. The guy quickly walking his two schnowzers gets a “Good Morning” every time. The walking lady gets a “Good Morning” plus a wave. There are many others and each has a pre-determined acknowledgement. You may think it’s a progression, that people move from nod to wave to greeting. But that does not appear to be the case. Test this theory as you run and let me know what you find.
Most mornings I’m out the door for my run about 6:15AM. Even on the hottest days, the humidity is not bad at that time of day. The past two days I’ve been home helping my oldest son pack for his first year of college (that will be a different post) so my schedule is different. I’ve actually slept in the last two days so I didn’t run until almost 7:30AM. What a difference. The humidity was noticibly higher. The same 3 mile run I usually do left me soaking wet. Both hot runs were good and I felt like I really accomplished something but I think I’ll stick to the early morning weather as much as possible.
Old fashioned paper and pencil logs worked just fine.
I’m torn. I’ve posted before about the great online running logs available so now that I’m running again after my little layoff, I planned to start tracking my progress online. The Runner’s World site has been my log of choice for the last few years. But for some reason, the last few days I’ve been seriously considering going “Old School” and grabbing a notebook and pen. There’s something appealing about having an old fashioned running log like I used back in the 80’s and 90’s. Something tangible that I can pick up and read no matter what room I’m in. Somewhere that I can easily add notes even a few days after my run without logging into a site and clicking through screens to get to the one I need. But on the flip side, the RW log has great tools like maps, graphs, and distance/pace calculators. It even tracks how many miles I put on my shoes!
I figure I have the rest of this week to decide because by next week I should be back to running 4-5 days a week and increasing my miles so I’ll want to start tracking.
So, help me out here. Does anyone out there still use a pen and paper for their running log? Will I be the only throw-back writing if I go that way? Or are the online tools really just too great to pass up?
Vote now!
After a six week layoff, this morning’s mile run felt great. In fact I know I’ll quickly get to the point that I’ll want to start doubling my mileage overnight. But, I’m really going to take my own (and other people’s) advice and not increase more than ten percent at a time. Well, maybe I can stretch that in the beginning and take some larger jumps than that. (Cautiously).
Maybe this is old news to some of you, but I just learned about text message updates of racers. A friend of mine running the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Half (see previous post) signed me up through www.competitor.com” so I could get text message update of her progress. It was very cool. I was in Michigan and got a text on my cell when she crossed the starting line, then one with her 5k time, another at 10k, then 9 miles and another with her final time. Definitely not the same as watching from the sidelines, but it was exciting to track her pace. I found myself checking my cell much like a spectator scanning the crowd of runners to pick out a friend as the field runs by.
I’m not sure how many races are offering this feature but if you are entered in a race that uses it defintiely add your friends and family. They’ll enjoy it and you will know you have fans cheering for you even if you can’t see them along the
One of the greatest things about running is that everyone can be a winner in a race. Sure only one person can come in first place but all of us that run can be a winner if we hit our goal. Maybe that goal is to beat your best previous time or maybe it’s just to finish.
My friend Stacy was running her first half-marathon last Saturday at the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon event. Participating in a large running event like that can be intimidating even to seasoned runners. And for a first-timer it can really throw you. But Stacy was determined to reach her goal of finishing so she focused on that and ignored the noise.
Even though I don’t think she had ever run 13.1 miles before, Stacy was in it to win it and finished strong. So to Stacy and everyone else who meets your goal at a race this summer - ”Great job. You are a Winner!”
The Disabled List. The Injured Reserved. Down for the count. There are lots of ways to say it but no matter what term I use, I’m still a runner who can’t run. At least for the next few months. I had surgery a few days ago to repair my rotator cuff. Dr. Kwartowitz says my shoulder wasn’t as bad as he thought so hopefully the recovery will be faster than planned.
For the next 30 days I have to use a CPM machine (Continuous Passive Motion) three times a day for one to two hours to keep the shoulder from freezing up. Then a couple months of therapy. Then back to running.
I hope to keep posting while I’m in therapy but since I’m typing with my wrong hand the entries may be short.
I realized the other day that I now have a three mile minimum. I’m not sure when it happened, but I can’t run less than three miles per run now. On days like today when I’m not training for a race and I just want to get a “quick” run in, I automatically go out for three miles. No effort, no planning. Just head out and do three. I remember years ago three miles took some thought. For some reason three miles seems like that will stay the minimum. I don’t see the day when it will be four or five. But only time will tell.
What’s your minimum?
