Out to Beernuts and Back

So Saturday was my first day of training with TNT. We met at the Normal Amtrack station that sits on the Constitution Trail and with everybody there we maybe had a group of 30 people.

What a change from the AIDS Marathon program in DC!!!!

In DC, the program had hundreds of participants for just ONE marathon. Here we had less than fifty for five or six marathon options.

We introduced ourselves and said what event we were running and then we were off - off for the Beernuts factory and back. Pretty funny if you ask me.

Along the way, I met a fellow named John whose father passed away from Lymphoma and whose brother was just diagnosed with it. It was very sobering listening to his story and reminded me just how lucky I am to be able to lace up my shoes and get a 4 mile run in before the day really begins.

John and I have similar time goals (he's also running Chicago), so I'm hoping I'll be able to run with him regularly. And NO, he's happily married so don't be thinking I might get to DATE him or some radical idea like that. Nope . . . this one-horse town appears to be a no-boy town for me. At least for now.

My love life aside, I am happy to be back in training and have a goal in mind. I guess I'll be seeing that Beernuts Factory a lot as I log the miles.

SIGH.

In DC it was the monuments, the Potomac, and the National Mall.

This might be a LONG summer.

Oops! I Did It Again!

No, this has nothing to do with Brittany or K-Fed . . . I have signed up for another marathon!

Yup, I'm off and running again . . . in earnest. I've joined up with Team in Training this time and am running the Chicago Marathon in October. I'm really excited but honestly wonder why I am a glutton for punishment.

I suppose I did it for three reasons: first, to have a goal so I might actually get off my butt and train. Second, to meet some new friends in this one-horse town. And third, to once again raise money for a cause that deserves my time.

Team in Training raises money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgikin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. The Society has dedicated itself to being one the top-rated voluntary health agencies in terms of dollars that directly fund the mission - over 75% of their funds goes into research, patient and community service, and public health and professional education.

As a participant, I am dedicated to raising $3,000 and in return the program will help me train.

I'm excited to begin! Next Saturday marks our kick-off and I am eager to get going.

Of course, Zoe has been helping me get ready with some shorter runs around my neighborhood and on the Constitution Trail. My teammates and I will be running on the trail every Saturday until race day October 7, 2007 (notice the sevens in my 7th marathon? cool, huh?).

And naturally, I will be keeping track of my training and fundraising here for you to follow along.

I hope, of course, you'll join me by making a contribution on my behalf here.

Until next time, run happy!

Mid-Term

Okay, it's even PAST mid-terms. I'm so LAME!

I really have no good excuse for not posting. It's mostly because I haven't been running regularly. I repeat: I'm so LAME!

Here's the deal. I DID find a good running route - the Constitution Trail - and Zoe was happily joining me on the morning runs as we found a water spot for her about half way for our usual route. It was good and I was feeling good.

Then I got sick. Then it got cold and dark. Then I got REALLY sick (nothing like the the germs all these college kids pass along to me). So . . . my regular running has become a thing of the past and it sucks.

I am finally feeling better again, but with it being just past the middle of the semester I am finding more of my time is being spent on campus dealing with student and faculty issues. So my Tuesday and Thursday mornings, which were ideal for running, are now full of outside meetings and conferences. Oy vey.

That gives me few options to get the running in. I can either get up and run on a dark trail at 5 AM OR run on a dark trail when I get home late at night. Neither option is very appealing . . .

However, I am MISSING it so I will have to find some way to make it work out. Besides, there is a local Turkey Trot I want to run on Thanksgiving and if I'm around here next year I have my eyes on the Chicago Marathon and there will have to be smaller runs leading up to it!

So my mid-term self-evaluation is an F regarding my running progress. But I think I can raise my grade before winter break . . . I'll keep you posted.

New Trails

Okay, so it has been nearly two months since my last post. I have a good excuse.

I moved.

That may not seem like much of a big deal to some people, but after 7 years in DC it was a HUGE move to me. Okay, many of you know I've moved countless times . . . in the 7 years I called DC home, I lived in 5 different places. Yup, that's nearly once a year! But this move was different.

I left DC. I left it big time. I am now in the middle of the country - in a small college town - trying to adjust to a different life and lifestyle. I am no longer a free-lance artist, but a "respectable college professor". Those that know me can laugh it up - I do!

So, for those two months I was AWOL, I apologize but feel my absence was entirely understandable. I had to PACK (a task I hate and if weren't for my many fabulous friends would never have happened) and find a new place to live and say good-bye to everybody. And then I had to go to California for a gig prior to my actual move! Then getting settled upon arrival here took some time so blogging was low on my list of priorities.

Now that I am feeling more settled, I'm happy to catch you up a little and begin writing more regularly again.

California was great. Okay . . . that's not entirely true. The people were super fun, the final product was quality, but the process was maddening! So in order to survive, I went running . . . and that was great.

I was staying in a sweet apartment that was literally across the street from the American River Trail. What an amazing location! It made it so easy - and pleasant - to run. Though it was awfully hot, the mornings there were always significantly cooler and the river is really pretty. While running I saw a ton of wild life too - the highlights being a buck of considerable years and size, a family of coyotes, and some jack rabbits. On those runs, I was thankful - for once - not to have Zoe with me!

I probably averaged about 5 miles a run . . . not too bad. I'm not training for anything right now so I guess I shouldn't beat myself up about lower mileage. I thought I would run the Chicago Half Marathon with my nephew, but as he is #1 on his cross-country team as a sophomore and has his eyes on the State meet, he's decided another half-marathon can wait. I don't blame him!

So now I am in my new home and have found the best (and pretty much only) running route. It's called the Congressional Trail and it has at least 20 miles of paved paths that Zoe and I can run on. And fortunately, it's quite pleasant.

We haven't been too far yet, Zoe and I. However, I do know it will lead me right to campus should I choose to go and I'm sure other parts of the trail will be fun to explore.

So new trails, new adventures, new possibilities. Now I need a new race.

Heat and the Hill

This morning I got up a little earlier than usual to run. I wanted to get out before the heat became unbearable. How silly of me! With the temperature already above 80 degrees, high humidity, and a code red air quality the day started unbearable.

When I opened the door, the furnace blast hit me; I began to sweat and Zoe began to pant instantly. I figured we may as well get it over with - it won't be pretty but it has to get done.

Before I got to Lincoln Park I was soaked and Zoe was none to enthusiastic about the work out. But I kept cheering her on and before I knew it we were at the fountains. She jumped right in and I could see the disappointment on her face. Wondering what could possibly be disappointing about the fountain when you're a water dog, I dipped my hand in and felt why - it was WARM. Not exactly the chance to cool her paws it usually is. She took a couple of gulps and jumped out as quickly as she jumped in.

She was mildly revived by the hydration and bossed me down the hill to where we turn around.

And head UP hill.

I've spoken of running Capitol Hill before. It's on our regular route and an important part of my run as it's the only hill I regularly run.

Today it was Capitol Hell. Seriously, it was damn hot and where Zoe will normally encourage me up the hill, I practically had to DRAG her up it. Nothing like a little 65 lb. resistance in your workout! Ugh. We were running, as usual, along the south side of Independence Ave and as I ran I stared longingly at the other side of the street - the sprinklers were on and soaking the sidewalk. I just didn't have enough energy to cross the street! Besides, it would have required stopping for traffic and breaking your stride mid-hill is the kiss of death - even more so in the heat. So I chugged along pulling Zoe wondering why I hadn't crossed the street at the bottom of the hill and praying we'd reach the top.

Of course we reached the top - we always do. And once it's passed us, it never feels as bad as I was thinking while running it. I suppose the hill is often difficult just because I'm THINKING it is. I guess I only have one more chance to be challenged by the Hill before the move.

Bring it on.

Running as Therapy

Some people think runners are crazy. I beg to differ. I think runners are some of the most sane people I know because running is a kind of therapy.

I know for me it works wonders. And John Bingham talks about it as Physical Therapy in this article (though he actually touches on the mental benefits as well).

With the impending move, I've found getting out of bed to run a far easier thing to do than it has been in the past. As Zoe and I run along, I can feel the stress leaving my body. It's almost like I leave it in my wake. And by the time we return to the house, I feel calmer than I had even upon waking.

I don't know why it works for me. Maybe the stress or whatever toxic feeling I'm experiencing leaves the body with the other toxins as I sweat. Maybe it has to do with reflexology and I'm actually massaging some areas of my foot that benefit my mood. Maybe it's just the steady pounding of my feet that hypnotizes me into feeling chill. Ultimately, I don't care why it works, just that it does.

What Bingham said about climbing a hill is very true for me. Capitol Hill, along Independence Ave, is my regular "hill" and I can often judge my mental and emotional state, as well as my physical one, on how I take the hill. Do I attack it? Is it easy to get up the hill or am I begging for Zoe's help the entire way? When I finish, am I sucking wind or easily moving toward home? The best part of the hill, is that while I'm running it, it's the only thing on my mind. Everything else takes a back seat until I'm all the way up and running at my regular pace.

I think I'll have to give the "all out" (which I usually do at the very end of the run - my so-called kick) a try. See if I can't run harder every now and then. Remove me from my comfort zone.

If it brings peace of mind, the hard way is the right way.

The Next Day

Well, the final Margarita Monday was terrific - 3 pitchers, queso, guacamole, bean dip, salsa and a stunning night. My friends and I certainly enjoyed the evening.

I might be paying for it today. I have had a small headache all day - which might be due to the tequila, or might not. I had wild dreams all night - which might be due to the tequila, or might not. I clenched my jaw all night - which might be due to the dreams, or might not.

Regardless, it wasn't a happy start to the day.

I did, however, get up and RUN. I figured it couldn't hurt to purge my body of the toxins - alcoholic and non.

So Zoe and I took our usual route down East Capitol to the Congressional Fountains, up Capitol Hill, and back on Independence Ave. It wasn't a bad run per se, but Zoe's heart wasn't in it. It was warm and muggy . . . and though I've been running on vacation, she hasn't! So she's out of practice. Yet she's a trooper and hung in there. She managed to pick up her pace near the fountains and chasing a squirrel, but the rest of the run she plodded along behind me panting away.

Well, perhaps there are more toxins in me than I care to admit as I'm still pushing through with this mild headache. Ugh.

I'm hopeful that a quiet evening of laundry, closet cleaning, and packing will ease the headache. And perhaps, ease the stress for a more restful evening so that tomorrow will be a better day.

Beach Comber

So I've been away on the annual family vacation . . . to Hampton Beach, NH. It's the largest stretch of beach on New Hampshire's mere 18 miles of coastline. We've been going there since I was born . . . and even before that! My mother was taken there as a child with her family. So three generations have been going back there almost every summer for sun, sand, and sea.

The good news is I managed to get three runs in while there. Two with my brother, one with my nephew (sort of . . . he's so damn fast). It was good to have the company and it's a place of many memories, so I'm never bored as I jog along.

The weather was really stunning. Not too hot and always a sea breeze to keep me cool. Of course, the first run it was more like a head wind and I was pretty miserable on the trip back because of it, but I can't complain - it kept me cooler.

It's fun to watch the day start on the beach. Things are still pretty quiet (even on the 4th) and you see regulars with their coffee and doughnuts from Dunkin' Doughnuts (yup, Starbucks is a rare find up there) sitting on benches enjoying the morning air.

The days I didn't run I took long walks along the beach or lazed in a sand chair and read. The water is way too cold for me to swim . . . which is too bad because I would love to get out there and ride the waves with my nieces and nephews. ALAS! I'm a wimp.

So now I'm back and have two weeks before the big move and will need to release some stress through running. Tonight is margarita Monday, but I've been known to get out there running even after enjoying my share of a pitcher. So, I'm going to have to grin and bear the heat and humidity of DC. Not every day is a beach day!

Rain Rain Rain

Okay, so it's raining right now. A LOT. There's flooding everywhere.

And that meant no weekend run for me. Go ahead and call me wimp . . . the rain won't kill me . . . I'm not the wicked witch and I won't melt.

But I rarely enjoy running in torrential downpours. So I won't or don't.

Fortunately, I'm off to the beach this weekend and will hopefully do some running with my nephew and brother.

Keep your fingers crossed the sun shines!

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK

No really. I am!

I am running regularly again. I even ran this morning after drinking margaritas last night. And it feels GOOD.

I am not distracted . . . well, that's not entirely true because I got a job that's taking me away from DC for a year . . . but the distractions are manageable enough to keep running. In fact, the running helps get rid of the panicky feeling I get regularly due to this new job. And Zoe has been running with me and though it is getting hotter, she seems okay with joining me for now, so we're getting out there three days a week.

So . . . hang in there with me one and all.

And forgive me for not running a marathon this year. I just can't make it happen. I was hoping to run Tucson, but the new job will make that travel difficult. So I think I'm going to focus on half marathons this fall. I might be able to make a spring marathon happen . . . time will tell. But for now I'm looking at the Chicago Half Marathon (maybe with my nephew and brother) and some other half marathons in the mid-west.

Don't despair . . . I'll run #7 in 2007.