But we an imperishable...

Today, I left my pencil skirt, pearls and heels in a bag under my desk and ran just under 6 miles straight home from work. As I was running, I thought of the Corinthians quote below. It happens to be one of my favorite Bible quotes...let's say Top 10, and well, today was the first time in my training that I remembered it. So, here it is...

"Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. " ~ 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Support

When running in a race, nothing feels better or motivates more than a familiar face. After whizzing by thousands of strange faces, the comfort of a familiar face is like feeling a shower of cold water in the middle of a long desert trek. Except it's better. Because when someone shows up to support a friend or an acquaintance in a race, it is a demonstration of love, the brotherly kind. The supporter may not think of it this way, but it is. It's one of those rare social situations where just showing up can be seen as an overwhelmingly kind gesture in the eyes of the one you're showing up for. Unexpected familiar spectators are even more refreshing.

A funeral is the most accurate experience to which I can compare the feeling. If you've ever been in the unfortunate position of processing out behind the casket of a family member or friend and seen a surprise, familiar face in a pew, you know what I'm talking about. In a moment of desperation, you suddenly feel so so gratious to that person for coming. That person makes a gesture that at its simplest says, "I recognize you" in a ridiculously sincere way. Spotting a friend during a race is heaven to me.

Chicago Triathlon

Tomorrow is the Chicago Triathlon. I'm not a triathlete (yet), but I will be a Gatorade distributor in the morning for all of the hard-working triathletes. I'm slated to begin work at 6am, and I am excited to watch the dedicated during their finest moments.

So, it's 10pm, and I'm on my way to sleep. Know that I cherish my nightlife, so I'm constantly evaluating the opportunity costs of this early-to-bed, early-to-rise thing that I've been doing.

On my own schedule, I will run 6-7 tomorrow, and 17 on Sunday AM, rounding out the weekly mileage at 50. I miss cranberry/vodkas and dancing after midnight.

Efficiency

I was reading some running articles in Runner's World when one mentioned the "efficiency of your steps", something I had never considered. Basically, if you pound your feet on the pavement, your steps are inefficient...your foot spends too much time on the ground. Efficient feet glide atop the gravel, touching down only as much as is necessary.

So, yesterday, as part of a 4-mile tempo run, I focused on making my steps as efficient as possible. I'm no ballerina when I run, so it was tough, but I managed to eek out 3 miles at an 8 min. mile pace. I found myself reaching Fullerton quickly, then North Ave. quickly, and before I knew it, the run was over.

I'm participating in a 5k for Multiple Myeloma in 3 weeks, and I've decided to crush it. I'm basically going to max out on speed and try to hold it for 3.1 miles. My goal is to finish in less than 23 minutes....which would amount to three 7:30's. This is lofty but do-able.

My Amos Lee Reverie

7 miles last night.

The first 4-5 miles were rough as my calves and feet tensed up, causing me distracting pain...a running impediment I struggle with frequently. The other side of that coin is that my feet eventually go numb which blunts the pain.

So I was laboring through, the sun had begun to set, and the lake and the city were bluish-gray. This is a beautiful, comfortable time of day for me. My iPod began to play "Kid" by Amos Lee...which is a liquid, emotional song about struggling and keeping your head up through it. In a quick moment, my pain affected my body the way pleasure does, providing relief and relaxation.

I take great pleasure in shouldering productive pain, and that is what marathon training has given me....great pleasure knowing that I'm expanding my personal thresholds, invalidating the logic of my insecurities, and making investments on my mental and physical strength.

Sweet Sixteen

Ran 16 miles yesterday. I was out having drinks the night before and spontaneously decided to get my run out of the way on Sat. AM instead of Sun. AM, so I unceremoniously left a group of drinkers for my pillow at about 1am.

For the first time while running, I had the thought, "I don't think 26 is possible." I was wrapping up the long run at mile 15ish, and my left IT band was exploding with pain. I soaked in a cold bath immediately after I was finished running. I think that helped...I feel no pain today.

Um, so how about those Olympians finishing up in like 2.5 hours? Geeez.

patience

Music

Weekly Mileage Total So Far: 33

Last long run's soundtrack:
"Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" - Coldplay
"Pardon Me" - Incubus
"That Green Gentleman" - Panic at the Disco
"Seven Nation Army" - Stripes
"Lost!" - Coldplay
"God Says Nothing Back" - Wallflowers
"Move Along" - All American Rejects
"Forever Young" - Sonic Youth
"Take a Bow" - Rihanna
"You Gotta Be" - Desree
"Sun's Gonna Rise" - Citizen Cope
"Against the Wind" - Bob Seger
"One" - U2 & Mary J. Blige
"Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
"Oxygen" - Colbie Caillat
"The Denial Twist" - Stripes
"Come As You Are" - Nirvana
"Breakaway" - Kelly Clarkson
"How to Be Dead" - Snow Patrol
"Tracing" - John Mayer
"Lose Yourself" - Eminem
"Seen It All Before" - Amos Lee
"The Only Difference Between Martydom and Suicide is Press Coverage" - Panic! at the Disco
"Transatlanticism" - Death Cab
"No Rain" - Blind Melon
"Another Day" - Rent
"Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" - Counting Crows
"Pieces of What" - MGMT
"Many Shades of Black" -Raconteurs
"Heaven" - John Legend
"Top Yourself" - Raconteurs
"Lake Shore Drive" - Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
"The Power" - The Snap!
"See You Again" - Miley Cyrus
"Strawberry Swing" - Coldplay
"Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" - Coldplay

Concentrate Solely on the Means

You can't do this for show.

Some people run to garner reactions from others. Marathon training is fundamentally too difficult, time-consuming, and demanding for that motivation to withstand. I might start off a run thinking I look really awesome in my Under Armour or my Livestrong Nike gear, but by the end, I'm going to look like shit. I'm going to be dizzy and a bit delirious, and I'm crazy if I'm searching for spectating eyeballs at that time.

I have to focus while I run. If I'm concerned about the end goal while I'm taking the solitary steps, I either give up early or I'll finish in an uncomfortable hurry. John Steinbeck sums it up best in East of Eden (which happens to be my favorite book of all time)....

"So often, men trip by being in a rush. If one were properly to perform a difficult and subtle act, he should first inspect the end to be achieved and then, once he had accepted the end as desirable, he should forget it completely and concentrate solely on the means. By this method he would not be moved by false action by anxiety or hurry or fear. Very few people learn this."

There ya go.

Back on the Horse

After a dry week of absolutely no running, I got out and ran a solid 14 miles this morning at 6:30am.

The sun was just up, and the lake & city looked gorgeous. After almost 5 miles on the trail, it finally felt so satisfying to have resisted the urge to stay lazy in bed.

Also, this was the first morning I had run after having a couple drinks and a late night out. It was a close friend's birthday, and I had to show her some love. Good to know I can pull that off.