Good morning! Happy September 30! Myles and I are sitting here together typing out a post on this last day of the month. I always love the last day of the month because I get to compile my running stats for the month. I love looking at my day to day running for any given month and then being able to quantify my efforts. So...this month:
Miles run: 246.2
Days run: 24
Days I ran 10 or more miles: 15
Miles run since June 1: 926.6
Days I ran 10 or more miles since June 1: 63
Miles run in 2011: 1509.6
Overall, I was very happy with September's effort and my overall marathon training effort since June 1st. I have a big run planned tomorrow as I'm running in an event that has a 5K and a 10K and I'm going to run both of them. Should be interesting.
I have a short message this morning. I recently began watching the show "Revenge" on ABC. The first episode led with the Confucius quote: "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." That quote has really stuck with me and it's powerful. In life, we have conflicts with people and if we choose to try and get even or get revenge, then we often enter into a never ending cycle of who gets the last word or who gets even last. In my opinion, no one wins when we become focused on getting the last word, getting even, or getting revenge. Therefore, you must dig two graves. This concept reminds me of our current political system. You have Republicans and Democrats in a constant battle trying to get revenge on the other for a variety of reasons--election defeats, sweetheart deals, leaking embarrassing personal information, etc. Both parties are engaged in a war of trying to get the last word, get even, or get revenge, and they are using the average American as leverage and as capital. They are not truly thinking about how to help create jobs or care for our less fortunate. They are merely concerned with winning and getting revenge if they don't win. If we continue to allow this game of revenge to proceed, then we'll have to dig three graves, a Republican grave, a Democrat grave, and then a grave for all the rest of us. This has to stop and we have the power to do so. We have 500 or so people making key decisions for 300,000,000 million Americans. We have the numbers. They don't. So...I encourage you to vote out the revenge seekers, call your elected officials, and demand that they start working on helping us rather than playing twisted games of revenge.
Have a wonderful day. I'm off my soap box now and headed to work. Happy running to you!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
20 Miles, The Regatta, & The End of an Era...
 |
| Myles & I have Matching Jackets for Regatta |
- Running: It was a fantastic week of training. This week I started the first of four 20 mile plus test runs. With just six weeks until the marathon, I now need to get in four runs of 20 miles or more. On Friday, I ran 20 miles in 2:15:18 (6:46/mile pace). I was very pleased with this and surprised by the pace because it felt very comfortable. If I had run a full marathon on Friday, I would've hit under 3 hours. I'm well on my way to having a shot at breaking 2:40 on 11/5. This week I ran 60.3 miles and over the five weeks I've run 290 miles with weeks of 59.3, 54.25, 57.3, 58.25, and 60.3. Legs are feeling very strong.
- Regatta: I had the chance to participate in the IUPUI Regatta yesterday and that was a great event. The students and staff who planned the Regatta did an outstanding job. Basically, it's over 100 teams in 14 heats racing about a half mile down the Indianapolis Downtown Canal. It's tremendous. The IUPUI Community was out in full force and Housing and Residence Life fielded 5 teams. We had some racing issues yesterday with the new canoes, but it was fun and a great event. The HRL Team pulled together and did a great job at our booth and then in the races.
- All My Children: Yes, I watch All My Children, a popular soap opera on ABC. I've watched it since the early 80s, and I used to watch every single day (either live or on tape). My Mom and I used to watch every night on tape during my high school years, and I can remember even watching it at my Mom's parents house with my Mom, Uncle, and Grandparents during the lunch hour as a kid if I happened to be over visiting. For me, All My Children was much more than a show. It was a show that I spent time watching with my family. When I went to college it was a show that reminded me of my family and helped me still feel connected when I was away from home. Also, it was an amazing show that broke social barriers. It was the first soap opera to feature characters from a variety racial backgrounds and also characters from the LGBT Community. Sure, there were absurd story lines that involved people coming back to life, having special powers, finding long lost kids, parents, and siblings, but AMC was not afraid to feature characters on their show that more truly reflected the American population. I think AMC's decision to do that was bold, admirable, and important. On Friday, I watched the final show and about half expected Erica (the main character) and Jack (her long time love interest) to walk off into the sunset. Instead, AMC ended on a cliffhanger that left those of us who are fans waiting for a Monday show that will never come. Goodbye All My Children. May the residents of Pine Valley live happily ever after.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Dear Mum Thiefs...
Good Morning! You ever wake up excited for the day and then something happens and your like, "well dang?" That happened to me today. And...I'm not going to let it ruin my day. But...I have a little message.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mum Thiefs,
Really? You decided to perfectly extract my beautiful Mums from my patio in the middle of the night? Really? I loved those Mums! Three weeks ago--after a long August and after Sarah left for Atlanta--I went to Lowes to buy some fall flowers for my patio. I like for it to look nice and I enjoy growing plants and flowers. I bought these Mums when they had no blooms and I was diligent about watering them and taking care of them each day. You see, Mums--as my Dad told me--need lots of water. And...I watered them, cared for them, and they returned the favor with beautiful deep red blooms. Yesterday, they looked as good as they have all fall. And...Myles looked out the window all day admiring them and the passers by. Last night before I went to bed I was thinking about how proud I'd be to show Sarah the Mums when she comes to visit in a couple weeks. They really looked good.
And then...you stole them. Perfectly, I might add. You extracted them and I'm sure that made a small mess. However, you clearly cleaned up after yourself because there was no soil on the ground when you left. You also had to be on the patio because you could not have removed them from the sidewalk that sits well below where the Mums sit. That's just creepy. And that makes wonder who it could be? Clearly, whoever took them wanted them because if you were just being mean then you would have ripped them out and tossed them on the ground. Also, you'd have to live nearby as it would be difficult just to take them out and carry them down the canal. And...you cleaned up which means you did not want me to know which direction you went. There are only a couple options of who it could be. Could it be a neighbor with the open house one street over? Or...could it be a neighbor who is not a fan of me? I guess I won't know and really what's the point. I'd have given them to you if you really just had to have them.
I'm going to miss those Mums. I'm going to miss looking at them. Myles is going to miss them. Sarah isn't even going to get to see them. Bummer. Bummer. Bummer. But...I'm going to the Colts game today and they are going to win. Georgia and Indiana won yesterday. So...you enjoy my Mums and I'll just go have a good day.
Best,
Josh
------------------------------------------------------------
All in all it was a great week of running as I hit 58.25 miles this week. I've now run 1410 miles for 2011. Have a great week, may no one steal your Mums, and happy running to you...
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mum Thiefs,
Really? You decided to perfectly extract my beautiful Mums from my patio in the middle of the night? Really? I loved those Mums! Three weeks ago--after a long August and after Sarah left for Atlanta--I went to Lowes to buy some fall flowers for my patio. I like for it to look nice and I enjoy growing plants and flowers. I bought these Mums when they had no blooms and I was diligent about watering them and taking care of them each day. You see, Mums--as my Dad told me--need lots of water. And...I watered them, cared for them, and they returned the favor with beautiful deep red blooms. Yesterday, they looked as good as they have all fall. And...Myles looked out the window all day admiring them and the passers by. Last night before I went to bed I was thinking about how proud I'd be to show Sarah the Mums when she comes to visit in a couple weeks. They really looked good.
 |
| Mums On Saturday Morning |
 |
| Mums Gone. No evidence left behind. :-( |
Best,
Josh
------------------------------------------------------------
All in all it was a great week of running as I hit 58.25 miles this week. I've now run 1410 miles for 2011. Have a great week, may no one steal your Mums, and happy running to you...
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Step Forward Yo...
Good morning! Hope that your weekend is off to a great start. Mine is off to a great start with the exception of missing Sarah. Myles and I miss her very much, but we pretend she's here, talk to her, and follow all rules. :-)
Today was a GIGANTIC step forward for me in my marathon training, as a ran the Dick Lugar 10K this morning up at Butler. My goal for today was to run a 7 mile warm up, the 10K race, and then a five mile cool down so that I could hit 18 miles for today. My other goal was to run the 10K at or ahead of marathon race pace and to finish strong. Let's be honest here. The last race I ran, The Ripple Effect, left a bad taste in my mouth. When I talked about that race it was not that I was upset with my time--the time was actually pretty good--rather it was that I was FURIOUS with myself for the finish--breaking mental concentration, missing my time goal, and letting someone pass me at the end. Today...I really did not want that to occur.
Senator Dick Lugar was at the start of the race and he got us going. Side note: While I'm not a Republican it was cool to see a Senator in person and he seemed really nice. Anyway, at the start there were a couple hundred of us lined up and it was clear we had some speedsters from IUPUI and Butler. I made an intentional effort to go out at a reasonable pace and I was in about 13th place at the mile. As I was running today, I just felt strong, relaxed, and in control. I knew I was running a good pace, but I was not really catching anyone--I passed two people between mile 1 and 2, but spent the last four miles about 15 seconds behind the group in front of me. I just decided to run my pace and focus on running the best 10K I could rather than running to catch them really quickly and risk going into oxygen debt. When I hit the third mile in 16:58 (my goal was 17:30) I was feeling good and really knew that I had a chance to break 36 minutes--something I've accomplished only a couple times in my life. I kept at it and mentally was able to focus and when I hit five miles in 28:50 I knew if I did not repeat what happened two weeks ago that I'd break 36 minutes. I ran well the last 1.2 miles, held my pace, and finished in 35:55, a 5:45/mile pace. There was NO repeat of the Ripple effect, as the person who finished after me was about 2 minutes behind.
Today was a great indicator that my hard work over the past few months is really paying off. On June 7 I ran a five mile race in 31:45 and felt awful. Today, at the five mile point of the 10K I was at 28:50 (2:55 faster than in June), and I ran 18 miles for the day. I'm really pleased with the effort, with the hard work, and the result. Today once again reminded me of why I love this sport--there is no immediate gratification and it takes some time (sometimes months) to find your potential, but when you have a day when you run to your potential then it just is a fantastic feeling. In running, there are no shortcuts and you earn what you get. No one can take from you what you earn and no one can give it to you either. It's an honest sport. A tough sport. And...it's something I love dearly.
Today should be a great football day. You've got the Cats and Cards fighting it out in Lexington. The Hoosiers and Bulldogs have winnable games. And...the FSU/OU and ND/MSU games should be good. Have a great day and happy running to you...
Today was a GIGANTIC step forward for me in my marathon training, as a ran the Dick Lugar 10K this morning up at Butler. My goal for today was to run a 7 mile warm up, the 10K race, and then a five mile cool down so that I could hit 18 miles for today. My other goal was to run the 10K at or ahead of marathon race pace and to finish strong. Let's be honest here. The last race I ran, The Ripple Effect, left a bad taste in my mouth. When I talked about that race it was not that I was upset with my time--the time was actually pretty good--rather it was that I was FURIOUS with myself for the finish--breaking mental concentration, missing my time goal, and letting someone pass me at the end. Today...I really did not want that to occur.
Senator Dick Lugar was at the start of the race and he got us going. Side note: While I'm not a Republican it was cool to see a Senator in person and he seemed really nice. Anyway, at the start there were a couple hundred of us lined up and it was clear we had some speedsters from IUPUI and Butler. I made an intentional effort to go out at a reasonable pace and I was in about 13th place at the mile. As I was running today, I just felt strong, relaxed, and in control. I knew I was running a good pace, but I was not really catching anyone--I passed two people between mile 1 and 2, but spent the last four miles about 15 seconds behind the group in front of me. I just decided to run my pace and focus on running the best 10K I could rather than running to catch them really quickly and risk going into oxygen debt. When I hit the third mile in 16:58 (my goal was 17:30) I was feeling good and really knew that I had a chance to break 36 minutes--something I've accomplished only a couple times in my life. I kept at it and mentally was able to focus and when I hit five miles in 28:50 I knew if I did not repeat what happened two weeks ago that I'd break 36 minutes. I ran well the last 1.2 miles, held my pace, and finished in 35:55, a 5:45/mile pace. There was NO repeat of the Ripple effect, as the person who finished after me was about 2 minutes behind.
Today was a great indicator that my hard work over the past few months is really paying off. On June 7 I ran a five mile race in 31:45 and felt awful. Today, at the five mile point of the 10K I was at 28:50 (2:55 faster than in June), and I ran 18 miles for the day. I'm really pleased with the effort, with the hard work, and the result. Today once again reminded me of why I love this sport--there is no immediate gratification and it takes some time (sometimes months) to find your potential, but when you have a day when you run to your potential then it just is a fantastic feeling. In running, there are no shortcuts and you earn what you get. No one can take from you what you earn and no one can give it to you either. It's an honest sport. A tough sport. And...it's something I love dearly.
Today should be a great football day. You've got the Cats and Cards fighting it out in Lexington. The Hoosiers and Bulldogs have winnable games. And...the FSU/OU and ND/MSU games should be good. Have a great day and happy running to you...
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday Ramblings...
Good morning. Hope that you are doing well this week. I'm doing pretty well. Myles and I went to visit Sarah last weekend in Atlanta (she's completing an away rotation at Emory University). We miss her VERY much and it was so good to see her. When I last wrote I mentioned that my mind and my body were tired. Therefore, I took some easy days on Friday through Monday. I ran 5 miles Friday, was off on Saturday, ran seven miles on Sunday, and then was off on Monday. Yesterday and today I ran 12 miles each day and ran very well. Legs felt fresh. Mind felt fresh. The rest period had the desired impact. Again, sometimes you have to actually slow down to speed up.
I'm excited for Saturday as I'm running a 10K up at Butler University. This will be another chance to test my legs. I've not raced much since moving to Indiana a few years ago (In fact, I've run 8 races in three years compared to 30 races in the 3 years prior to that). I'm not sure it matters much how much I run since I'm enjoying it. All in all, running is going well.
It's been such a crazy week, month, year, decade in this world. A couple days ago we marked 10 years since 9/11/01. That day is one I'll not forget and it forever changed the way we travel, the way we think about safety, and the way we protect ourselves. There have been a lot of posts about 9/11 and what people recall about that day. For me, I recall being a lobby with students at UGA in my first year as a professional. I recall comforting them, talking with them, listening to them, and just watching with disbelief as the day unfolded. I don't think I'll ever forget the day or the week after 9/11 when this country seemed more united--across race, sexual identity, class, etc.--than at any other point. For just a few weeks no one cared about what you looked liked, who you loved, how much money you had or didn't have, etc. It just mattered that you lived in this country and were impacted by 9/11, and we needed to bond together to be there for each other. My hope at the time was that all Americans could remember the bond they felt with other Americans that day and then use 9/11 as a point from which we all treated each other a little bit better. Unfortunately, I don't believe we took that away after a few months. We still fight and struggle internally over resources while our fellow Americans go hungry, are homeless, go uneducated, and have their basic rights denied. We watch our political leaders continue to fight to stay elected rather than to fight for what's going to help the average person. Bottom line, if we don't start caring about the fortune and the rights of our friends, neighbors, or just the average person trying to make it, then we will see a decline like we've never seen before. And...it won't be a wound made by terrorists, but rather a self-inflicted wound of our own making. So...my hope is that the 10 year mark of 9/11 will once again remind us that if we work together to help everyone move forward, then we can help America reach it's next pinnacle rather than decline down the mountain. Just my two cents.
Have a great day. Happy running to you...
 |
| Watching Georgia v. S. Carolina. Isn't Sarah adorable? |
I'm excited for Saturday as I'm running a 10K up at Butler University. This will be another chance to test my legs. I've not raced much since moving to Indiana a few years ago (In fact, I've run 8 races in three years compared to 30 races in the 3 years prior to that). I'm not sure it matters much how much I run since I'm enjoying it. All in all, running is going well.
It's been such a crazy week, month, year, decade in this world. A couple days ago we marked 10 years since 9/11/01. That day is one I'll not forget and it forever changed the way we travel, the way we think about safety, and the way we protect ourselves. There have been a lot of posts about 9/11 and what people recall about that day. For me, I recall being a lobby with students at UGA in my first year as a professional. I recall comforting them, talking with them, listening to them, and just watching with disbelief as the day unfolded. I don't think I'll ever forget the day or the week after 9/11 when this country seemed more united--across race, sexual identity, class, etc.--than at any other point. For just a few weeks no one cared about what you looked liked, who you loved, how much money you had or didn't have, etc. It just mattered that you lived in this country and were impacted by 9/11, and we needed to bond together to be there for each other. My hope at the time was that all Americans could remember the bond they felt with other Americans that day and then use 9/11 as a point from which we all treated each other a little bit better. Unfortunately, I don't believe we took that away after a few months. We still fight and struggle internally over resources while our fellow Americans go hungry, are homeless, go uneducated, and have their basic rights denied. We watch our political leaders continue to fight to stay elected rather than to fight for what's going to help the average person. Bottom line, if we don't start caring about the fortune and the rights of our friends, neighbors, or just the average person trying to make it, then we will see a decline like we've never seen before. And...it won't be a wound made by terrorists, but rather a self-inflicted wound of our own making. So...my hope is that the 10 year mark of 9/11 will once again remind us that if we work together to help everyone move forward, then we can help America reach it's next pinnacle rather than decline down the mountain. Just my two cents.
Have a great day. Happy running to you...
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sometimes I don't have it...
Good morning! Myles and I are sitting here on a rainy morning, drinking some coffee, and blogging together. It's become our morning ritual for him to sit in my lap while I read the Internet news and check all of my social media accounts. This is one of my favorite parts of the day.
I've had the good fortune over the past few months to write about my running in nearly all positive ways. For a couple months, my posts have been about that great "10 mile run" or that "great tempo run workout" that I ran. However, it does not always go swimmingly for me when I run and I think it's important to write on days when I just did not have "it" on my run. Today was one of those days. This morning I was scheduled to complete a Red Mile workout (12 one mile repeats with one minute rest in between each one). When I went to bed last night I could not mentally prepare and surprisingly this morning I woke up at the right time despite not setting my alarm--that should have been a signal I paid attention to. I trudged out of bed at 5:07a and got ready for my run. I ran to the Red Mile Course and kept trying to talk myself into the workout. I really was not mentally committing to the workout so I made a deal with myself that I'd just run 10 repeats this morning. After about 1.25 miles of warming up I took off for the first repeat. When I looked at my watch at the end of my first repeat I was three seconds off my goal pace and I was gassed. "Coach Josh," the "Josh" that motivates me, was hot. He muttered a few foul words and yelled at "Runner Josh." Then...I took off for the second one and hit the pace. I was pleased but not convinced I wanted to finish the workout. I ran the third repeat and was four seconds off pace. At this point Coach Josh exploded---"Josh, YOU have to CONCENTRATE. YOU'RE just NOT concentrating. (Bleeping) CONCENTRATE!" I took off for the fourth mile and "Runner Josh" just did not respond. I ran the fourth mile repeat at my daily pace. After the fourth mile "Runner Josh" was frustrated and "Coach Josh" was furious and we agreed that I'd just run about 5 easy miles to get to 10 miles for the day and call the workout. It's true, I did not finish the Red Mile workout today.
On the five miles to get home I processed a lot in my head about why things went so wrong this morning. At first, I was very upset and thought, "I'm going to have a bad day, I've got nothing to be proud of today, and I'm going to stink it up at the marathon." To those of you who have not seen this side of me it may come as a surprise, but I think it's important to be honest about the fact that I can start to have that negative discourse in my head from time to time. As I was processing, though, I was able to get "Coach Josh" and "Runner Josh" to realize that I today I was tired, I have run 80 miles in 8 days, and I was completely gassed mentally and physically. Usually if I don't have it physically my mind can push me to reach my goal (last week). And...usually if I don't have it mentally then my body can still perform and get my mind back on track. Today, though, I had neither the mental or physical strength to run the workout the way I wanted to run it. And so...I made the decision to call it off rather than continue to have "Coach Josh" made and upset and "Runner Josh" frustrated and maybe push it too hard and get injured. It was a real battle out there today and I'm very thankful this does not happen often. Now...imagine if you could have seen this. I'm sure it must have been funny to watch a guy talking to himself: One second yelling and the other second bargaining. I'm sure I would've looked out of my mind. Ha Ha Ha.
All in all, there is a silver lining in what happened today--which is that rather than continuing to bang my head against the wall (trying to run a workout when it was clear I was not mentally or physically into it) I decided to alter the plan. I think that this is a good life lesson that we probably all learn at some point. Sometimes we have to alter our plans in order to reach our long term goals. Sure...I was disappointed, but I would have been more angry and upset if I had continued that workout. And...in making a decision to alter the plan I was able to get rid of all that negative self talk that was going on in my brain. Self talk that is honest is good for us all, but self talk that starts to berate and hit our self-esteem has to quickly be roped in. I was glad to be able to do that on the five miles home.
Have a great Thursday and thanks for reading my blog. Happy running to you!
I've had the good fortune over the past few months to write about my running in nearly all positive ways. For a couple months, my posts have been about that great "10 mile run" or that "great tempo run workout" that I ran. However, it does not always go swimmingly for me when I run and I think it's important to write on days when I just did not have "it" on my run. Today was one of those days. This morning I was scheduled to complete a Red Mile workout (12 one mile repeats with one minute rest in between each one). When I went to bed last night I could not mentally prepare and surprisingly this morning I woke up at the right time despite not setting my alarm--that should have been a signal I paid attention to. I trudged out of bed at 5:07a and got ready for my run. I ran to the Red Mile Course and kept trying to talk myself into the workout. I really was not mentally committing to the workout so I made a deal with myself that I'd just run 10 repeats this morning. After about 1.25 miles of warming up I took off for the first repeat. When I looked at my watch at the end of my first repeat I was three seconds off my goal pace and I was gassed. "Coach Josh," the "Josh" that motivates me, was hot. He muttered a few foul words and yelled at "Runner Josh." Then...I took off for the second one and hit the pace. I was pleased but not convinced I wanted to finish the workout. I ran the third repeat and was four seconds off pace. At this point Coach Josh exploded---"Josh, YOU have to CONCENTRATE. YOU'RE just NOT concentrating. (Bleeping) CONCENTRATE!" I took off for the fourth mile and "Runner Josh" just did not respond. I ran the fourth mile repeat at my daily pace. After the fourth mile "Runner Josh" was frustrated and "Coach Josh" was furious and we agreed that I'd just run about 5 easy miles to get to 10 miles for the day and call the workout. It's true, I did not finish the Red Mile workout today.
On the five miles to get home I processed a lot in my head about why things went so wrong this morning. At first, I was very upset and thought, "I'm going to have a bad day, I've got nothing to be proud of today, and I'm going to stink it up at the marathon." To those of you who have not seen this side of me it may come as a surprise, but I think it's important to be honest about the fact that I can start to have that negative discourse in my head from time to time. As I was processing, though, I was able to get "Coach Josh" and "Runner Josh" to realize that I today I was tired, I have run 80 miles in 8 days, and I was completely gassed mentally and physically. Usually if I don't have it physically my mind can push me to reach my goal (last week). And...usually if I don't have it mentally then my body can still perform and get my mind back on track. Today, though, I had neither the mental or physical strength to run the workout the way I wanted to run it. And so...I made the decision to call it off rather than continue to have "Coach Josh" made and upset and "Runner Josh" frustrated and maybe push it too hard and get injured. It was a real battle out there today and I'm very thankful this does not happen often. Now...imagine if you could have seen this. I'm sure it must have been funny to watch a guy talking to himself: One second yelling and the other second bargaining. I'm sure I would've looked out of my mind. Ha Ha Ha.
All in all, there is a silver lining in what happened today--which is that rather than continuing to bang my head against the wall (trying to run a workout when it was clear I was not mentally or physically into it) I decided to alter the plan. I think that this is a good life lesson that we probably all learn at some point. Sometimes we have to alter our plans in order to reach our long term goals. Sure...I was disappointed, but I would have been more angry and upset if I had continued that workout. And...in making a decision to alter the plan I was able to get rid of all that negative self talk that was going on in my brain. Self talk that is honest is good for us all, but self talk that starts to berate and hit our self-esteem has to quickly be roped in. I was glad to be able to do that on the five miles home.
Have a great Thursday and thanks for reading my blog. Happy running to you!
Monday, September 5, 2011
A Labor(ed) Day Effort...
Good morning! Hope that Labor Day is treating you well. I kicked of my Labor Day with a 2:00:58 run for about 17 miles. Not too bad of a run after racing last night.
Speaking of last night, I appreciate all of the well wishes before the race. I got back around 9p last night and did not have time to blog (since I was getting up early to run). So...here's a race update. Last night I ran the Ripple Effect 4 Mile run in Broadripple. Believe it or not, it's only the third race I've run in the past year (Ripple Effect 2010, Outrun the Sun June 2011, and last night). I've been running a lot and training for the Monumental Marathon, but have not run many races. So...there were 526 of us lined up for the start at 7p. I ran about 3.5 miles before the race to warm up and to calm my nerves. Not sure why, but I was kind of nervous. Anyway, I lined up behind a few folks, which is a trick I use so I don't get out to fast. The starter issued his command and we were off. Now...in any race I've ever run there are always about 15-20 people who just start off like gangbusters and run much faster than they can handle. The key for me was to not go with them and just be patient. When we approached the half-mile mark I was about in 20th place, but I could hear everyone in front of me breathing pretty hard. I got settled into what I thought was a good pace and went through the first mile in 5:28 and in about 13th place. I really wanted to hit 5:40 and was scared I was going to have a repeat of Outrun the Sun, when I got out too fast and then tanked it. As I got into the second mile, I found my stride and just slowly started moving up and running strong. At mile two I was 11:18 (5:50 second mile) and had moved into 10th place. I could see positions 4-9 in front of me and my legs were feeling strong and I knew if I could concentrate then I could possible finish in the top five. My pace stayed about the same during mile three and I kept moving up. At the third mile I was 17:08 (5:50 third mile) and in 8th place. I very quickly took 7th place in the first quarter of the fourth mile and was chasing down the guy in 6th and thought I may even have a shot at 5th. At the 3.5 mile mark I moved into 6th position and was only about 5 seconds back from 5th place. The guy in 5th was closing on the guy in 4th and the guy in 3rd was very close. I started to give chase and cut into the gap a little, but as I hit the last turn it was clear I was not going to take him. Still, I was going to be pleased. And then...I got caught sleeping. As I was finishing and was probably at 3.98 miles, someone flew past me--and that really bothered me. There is a rule in running that you don't let folks pass you back. This guy tracked me down. Funny thing is that he was doing what I was doing--just slowling picking people off. He was not one of the guys I had been passing and he sort of snuck up on me. So...I finished the race in 22:51 (5:43 last mile) and landed in 7th place (NOTE: For some reason the results on the Tuxbro page are off--not sure why but I know what the clock said at the finish).
Overall, I was happy with the race and for 3.98 miles I really ran smart and ran tough. That last .02 really left a bad taste in my mouth. It's rare that I get passed like that and I was none too pleased with myself. None to pleased at all! I spent a good part of my 17 mile run this morning thinking about it. You have to finish and I talk to my staff about finishing strong all the time. And here...I got caught celebrating a great finish before I was done. It was a great a lesson on not losing concentration. And...if I'd paid more attention to getting the guy in 5th place instead of enjoying 6th place then it would not have mattered. Ahhh...frustration. After the race, though, I did the runnerly thing and went up to the guy who passed me and told him good job and congratulated him. He did a great job and I will learn a lesson from it. I know it probably seems ridiculous, but I'm Competitive with a capitol C. And...I'd never be upset getting passed if I knew that I had not made a mental error. Last night I just made a mental error.
As I head into this week I'm very excited to be heading to Atlanta to see Sarah and Sarah's family. Myles is ready to see his Momma as I make a poor substitute. Myles loves his Dad, but he LOVES his Momma--and I totally get that! ;-)
Have a great Labor Day, don't forget to finish, and happy running to you!
 |
| Myles & I's Face of Frustration |
As I head into this week I'm very excited to be heading to Atlanta to see Sarah and Sarah's family. Myles is ready to see his Momma as I make a poor substitute. Myles loves his Dad, but he LOVES his Momma--and I totally get that! ;-)
Have a great Labor Day, don't forget to finish, and happy running to you!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Attack or be attacked...
Good morning! Hope that you are having an outstanding Labor Day weekend. I'm having a pretty good one as my parents and their friends came up to Indianapolis for a visit. We went to the Drag Racing Nationals on Friday evening and then hung out a bit yesterday. Sarah is in Atlanta completing an away rotation and Myles and I miss her very much. Yesterday, was an awful football day for both Sarah and I. We both root for IU and Georgia and they both lost. Sometimes...that's just the way it goes.
I'm very excited about tonight. For the first time in three months I'm racing. Since my last race in early June I've run over 650 miles and have really gotten into shape. The race is the Ripple Effect in Broadripple and it starts at 7p. I ran in this race last year and had a great time and a great race finishing in 22:47. I really am not sure what sort of time I'll run tonight. I've posted tempo runs of 23:39 for four miles and 29:43 for five miles by myself on a track. I also ran 12 mile repeats with one minute rest in between each repeat on Thursday morning and kept every mile between 5:51 and 5:57. Usually, I run faster in races so we will see. No matter what, it's a great way to see where I'm at and to have some fun.
I'll tell you one thing about my personal running journey and how it relates to Indiana football and then to life. So...last night I went to the Indiana football game and they started off great. They scored on 3/4 possessions and looked better than in years past. Then...Ball State hit him back, stayed tough, and took it from Indiana. They broke that tackle for a couple extra yards, they made sure to get first downs at the end of the game to ice the clock, and they stopped IU. Ball State was much more mentally tough than IU. Of course, this upset me and I had to analyze it and it made me think of my workouts from last week. In each marathon specific workout (Tempo Run/Red Mile--mile repeats), there was a point at which I was not sure if I could achieve my workout goal. In fact, for just a couple seconds on both days (Monday/Thursday) I considered compromising my goal. And then...I thought about the fact that if I want to run a 2:39 marathon on 11/5, then I have to push through fatigue and pain to train my body to fight through it. If I want to be a 2:39 marathoner, then I have to train like a 2:39 marathoner. Most of us are capable of running through more than we give ourselves credit for. It's just that we don't practice getting through it. So...on both days I said to myself ("attack or be attacked") and I decided to attack the fatigue, hold my pace, and reach down deep. I know that if I continue to practice this, as I have in the past, then I'll reach my goals. In watching IU last night, I just did not see a team that was willing to reach down deep and do what was required to reach a goal (to win). Ball State had it. Indiana did not.
I believe that this same principle applies to one's life. There are roadblocks we all face and some folks have many more than others. There is not much one can do about a roadblock that is set in front of them. However, there is a lot one can do to get past the roadblock. Personally, during the times in my life when I've decided I could overcome a roadblock despite what the roadblock was then it happened. On the flip side, when I've let the roadblock dictate my actions then it's stopped me. Attack or be attacked! Be the driver or be the passenger along for the ride. Everyday, running presents me with the option of getting through a roadblock or just stopping and giving into fatigue. Every time that I choose to find a way, then it just helps me do that in other areas of life as well.
Have a great Sunday. If you are in the Broadripple area tonight around 7p then say hello! Happy running to you...
I'm very excited about tonight. For the first time in three months I'm racing. Since my last race in early June I've run over 650 miles and have really gotten into shape. The race is the Ripple Effect in Broadripple and it starts at 7p. I ran in this race last year and had a great time and a great race finishing in 22:47. I really am not sure what sort of time I'll run tonight. I've posted tempo runs of 23:39 for four miles and 29:43 for five miles by myself on a track. I also ran 12 mile repeats with one minute rest in between each repeat on Thursday morning and kept every mile between 5:51 and 5:57. Usually, I run faster in races so we will see. No matter what, it's a great way to see where I'm at and to have some fun.
I'll tell you one thing about my personal running journey and how it relates to Indiana football and then to life. So...last night I went to the Indiana football game and they started off great. They scored on 3/4 possessions and looked better than in years past. Then...Ball State hit him back, stayed tough, and took it from Indiana. They broke that tackle for a couple extra yards, they made sure to get first downs at the end of the game to ice the clock, and they stopped IU. Ball State was much more mentally tough than IU. Of course, this upset me and I had to analyze it and it made me think of my workouts from last week. In each marathon specific workout (Tempo Run/Red Mile--mile repeats), there was a point at which I was not sure if I could achieve my workout goal. In fact, for just a couple seconds on both days (Monday/Thursday) I considered compromising my goal. And then...I thought about the fact that if I want to run a 2:39 marathon on 11/5, then I have to push through fatigue and pain to train my body to fight through it. If I want to be a 2:39 marathoner, then I have to train like a 2:39 marathoner. Most of us are capable of running through more than we give ourselves credit for. It's just that we don't practice getting through it. So...on both days I said to myself ("attack or be attacked") and I decided to attack the fatigue, hold my pace, and reach down deep. I know that if I continue to practice this, as I have in the past, then I'll reach my goals. In watching IU last night, I just did not see a team that was willing to reach down deep and do what was required to reach a goal (to win). Ball State had it. Indiana did not.
I believe that this same principle applies to one's life. There are roadblocks we all face and some folks have many more than others. There is not much one can do about a roadblock that is set in front of them. However, there is a lot one can do to get past the roadblock. Personally, during the times in my life when I've decided I could overcome a roadblock despite what the roadblock was then it happened. On the flip side, when I've let the roadblock dictate my actions then it's stopped me. Attack or be attacked! Be the driver or be the passenger along for the ride. Everyday, running presents me with the option of getting through a roadblock or just stopping and giving into fatigue. Every time that I choose to find a way, then it just helps me do that in other areas of life as well.
Have a great Sunday. If you are in the Broadripple area tonight around 7p then say hello! Happy running to you...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)