Hello everyone,
I have been thinking about moving my blog for some time. With the release of the novel, Run, I have finally decided to switch to a blog title that more aptly addresses the subject matter of the blog - running. From now on, please follow runningconversations.blogspot.com
It has been great fun to write under the title of Flyoverstatements for many years. Feel free to peruse old postings if you want. But this post is the last one that I will have on this site for the foreseeable future.
Keep running!
Allen
Saturday, May 3, 2014
When release is not a release
I had a decent week for running - 30 miles even. That followed on the heels of a 35 mile effort last week. I would like to do more, but am still chilling out a bit due to the hamstring injury. And the hammy is getting better. But I am trying to take it slowly, and not push the envelope on how much running to do while recovering from a running injury.
I had a bunch of sleepless nights as well this week. Releasing the book, Run, which I thought was going to be a relief, has actually stressed me out. . . completely. With its publication, I somehow feel as if I have invaded my own privacy; oddly in a manner that is more personal than this personal blog. Somehow, sharing a story from my imagination, to me, seems much more revealing than putting a weekly summary of thoughts and activities in this space. It is kind of like how some people think a kiss is more intimate than sex. And in some ways it might be.
I found a typo in the book - that was a bit traumatic for me. It isn't glaring. And everyone - editors, me, other readers (except the one who pointed it out) - has glossed over it. But I know it is there, and it bothers me. I will, at some point, talk with the layout people and see if I can't get it (literally one word, 'are') deleted. My mother had been reading a best-seller a few weeks ago and had found a huge typo in that work; a sentence that started and then ran into another sentence to be absolutely a jumble of meaninglessness in the middle of the work. So I can take some sad solace in knowing that these mistakes happen in the big leagues as well. I am hoping that 'are' is the only error I find (or have pointed out to me).
I'm finding most reactions to the book to be very favorable. The novel is meant to be a fun read for runners and fans. It isn't meant to be great literature - only a good story. I think most people get that. I want people to like the characters, even though in some ways, they are unlikable. I have been told by many people that the narrator is ridiculously like me. And that is probably true. And that is also probably where a lot of my anxiety is derived.
I'm taking today off and hitting the trails on the Rock Hopper. Afterward I hope to grab some veggies at the farmers' market. Tomorrow I'll kick out a long run and try to have it pull me out of my brooding self-doubt for a few hours.
I had a bunch of sleepless nights as well this week. Releasing the book, Run, which I thought was going to be a relief, has actually stressed me out. . . completely. With its publication, I somehow feel as if I have invaded my own privacy; oddly in a manner that is more personal than this personal blog. Somehow, sharing a story from my imagination, to me, seems much more revealing than putting a weekly summary of thoughts and activities in this space. It is kind of like how some people think a kiss is more intimate than sex. And in some ways it might be.
I found a typo in the book - that was a bit traumatic for me. It isn't glaring. And everyone - editors, me, other readers (except the one who pointed it out) - has glossed over it. But I know it is there, and it bothers me. I will, at some point, talk with the layout people and see if I can't get it (literally one word, 'are') deleted. My mother had been reading a best-seller a few weeks ago and had found a huge typo in that work; a sentence that started and then ran into another sentence to be absolutely a jumble of meaninglessness in the middle of the work. So I can take some sad solace in knowing that these mistakes happen in the big leagues as well. I am hoping that 'are' is the only error I find (or have pointed out to me).
I'm finding most reactions to the book to be very favorable. The novel is meant to be a fun read for runners and fans. It isn't meant to be great literature - only a good story. I think most people get that. I want people to like the characters, even though in some ways, they are unlikable. I have been told by many people that the narrator is ridiculously like me. And that is probably true. And that is also probably where a lot of my anxiety is derived.
I'm taking today off and hitting the trails on the Rock Hopper. Afterward I hope to grab some veggies at the farmers' market. Tomorrow I'll kick out a long run and try to have it pull me out of my brooding self-doubt for a few hours.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Weakly Run, The Long Run, and Run
I'm at 29 miles for the week so far. The past several runs, however, have felt clunky. My legs have been heavy. My pace has been off. Breathing a bit gaspy. But I've put in the miles without much difficulty by slowing down . . . a lot. Slowing down doesn't bother me too much as long as it is for a short period of time - a week or so. What concerns me is that the 7 month hamstring injury may have decreased my speed more than I had realized by affecting my stride length. I have been shortening my stride to avoid pain and continuing to run with the injury. So now I'm taking steps (no pun intended) to pulse-stretch the hamstring and re-lengthen my stride. The process will be ongoing. The results, I hope, will be a return to a faster pace and diminished pain.
.JPG)
Before moving on to news of my own book, I thought I'd take a moment to plug a novel I finished this week. The Long Run, by Leo Furey, follows a year inside a Catholic boys' orphanage in Canada. It is a bit what you think it would be, in that there is an overriding sadness to the story, with some instances of humor thrown in (much like most of our own lives, I suppose). The boys in the novel (set in 1960) secretly train for a marathon. As the event approaches, the boys become both increasingly independent and interdependent in order to achieve their personal and collective goals.
The descriptions of running and training are a bit lite, but the story and the writing is not. I was drawn in and went through the range of emotions - rage, hilarity, and sadness - as I read the book. If you like running and coming-of-age stories, The Long Run is a good choice for a Spring or Summer read.
A quick note: If you do buy running books, whenever possible, buy them through sites like RunFanShop.com. Your purchase helps top runners who train and compete with limited sources of funding (when compared to other top athletes).
My new novel, Run, is now available in paperback. It will be up on Amazon and Amazon Kindle within the next week. It can be purchased now at https://www.createspace.com/4729496 .
I've experienced a bit of trepidation in publishing the book, mainly centered around the intended readership. I have been encouraged to market the book as YA (young adult) and also general and sports fiction. But in order to be true to my main characters, all older teenagers, I had to write what is real. And that group doesn't speak or act in a G-Rated manner. Instead, the lives of a lot of younger Americans seem to be lived in a world that is more NC-17, with language, actions, music, videos, and other entertainment outlets reflecting this sensibility.
The full synopsis can also be found on the CreateSpace site listed above.
I hope you have a chance to read Run. If you have time to comment on it, please feel free to do so on Amazon (once it is on their website), on RunTheNovel FB page, my Twitter account, or right here. I love to hear from friends new and old.
Before moving on to news of my own book, I thought I'd take a moment to plug a novel I finished this week. The Long Run, by Leo Furey, follows a year inside a Catholic boys' orphanage in Canada. It is a bit what you think it would be, in that there is an overriding sadness to the story, with some instances of humor thrown in (much like most of our own lives, I suppose). The boys in the novel (set in 1960) secretly train for a marathon. As the event approaches, the boys become both increasingly independent and interdependent in order to achieve their personal and collective goals.
The descriptions of running and training are a bit lite, but the story and the writing is not. I was drawn in and went through the range of emotions - rage, hilarity, and sadness - as I read the book. If you like running and coming-of-age stories, The Long Run is a good choice for a Spring or Summer read.
A quick note: If you do buy running books, whenever possible, buy them through sites like RunFanShop.com. Your purchase helps top runners who train and compete with limited sources of funding (when compared to other top athletes).
My new novel, Run, is now available in paperback. It will be up on Amazon and Amazon Kindle within the next week. It can be purchased now at https://www.createspace.com/4729496 .
I've experienced a bit of trepidation in publishing the book, mainly centered around the intended readership. I have been encouraged to market the book as YA (young adult) and also general and sports fiction. But in order to be true to my main characters, all older teenagers, I had to write what is real. And that group doesn't speak or act in a G-Rated manner. Instead, the lives of a lot of younger Americans seem to be lived in a world that is more NC-17, with language, actions, music, videos, and other entertainment outlets reflecting this sensibility.
The full synopsis can also be found on the CreateSpace site listed above.
I hope you have a chance to read Run. If you have time to comment on it, please feel free to do so on Amazon (once it is on their website), on RunTheNovel FB page, my Twitter account, or right here. I love to hear from friends new and old.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Running and Longview Disc Golf Course
PT for my hamstring issues has started to work. They don't hurt much when I'm simply as they did for the past seven months. I still experience pretty good pain when I run and stretch, but it slowly subsides to manageable levels once I've passed a mile or two.
Last week was an excellent time to put in some miles. While it happens to be snowing as I type this, the last seven days were mainly warm, with runs on Sat and Sun taking place in 70F+ temps.
After seeing my first copperhead of the season on the Clinton trails two weeks ago, I passed my first garter snake on the River Trails on Saturday. It was good a good size critter. I tried to get it to move off the trail by squirting it with beet juice from my hand-held water bottle. I didn't want it to be crushed by a mountain or cross bike. It is odd that I've only ever seen garters and black snakes on the River Trails, and only copperheads at Clinton. You think there'd be some crossover. But I've never seen it.
Anyway, week complete. 33 miles.
Gregory Thomas driving at Longview
After Saturday's long run, I popped out to Perry Lake with my disc golf buddies, Chris Ford, Mathew Faulk, and Greg Thomas. We normally play courses in Lawrence, but wanted to try out the Longview course at Perry Lake. And what a great idea that turned out to be. The course is challenging and one of the best-marked I've seen (in my limited experience). The pads and baskets are also perfectly maintained. It has some of the most extreme holes - in terms of shooting through canopies uphill for successive shots - that one can imagine on a course. The layout among the boulders, ponds, and trees also makes for one of the prettiest settings imaginable. Another big plus for Longview is that the pars are correct. Birdies and eagles can be had, but shots have to be well-played for those to occur. Due to the extreme terrain, plan to spend around 3 hours per 18 holes. This is not a course like Centennial - which, while challenging - is a course that can be run in about and hour and twenty minutes. At Longview, you will finish feeling as if you had a real workout from tromping up and down hills, over ravines and streams, and around ponds and boulders.
Based on the fact that I can't wait to get back to Perry to play the course again, I'd have to give it an A+ rating.
Now, I think I'm going to go and do my last run in the snow for the season. . .
Monday, March 31, 2014
Salomon SpeedCross Update & Copperheads Are Back
Salomon SpeedCross 3s
Time for an update. If you recall, some months ago, I tweeted and FB'd about a new pair of trail shoes I had purchased. Since I'm pretty much a Mizuno guy, the change to Salomon was a bit of a stretch. Still, though, I thought I should expand my knowledge of trail shoes beyond Brooks Cascadias (ok, IMHO) and Mizuno Wave Ascends (good, also IMHO).
Now, after having logged a few hundred trail miles on the soles of the Salomons, I feel somewhat qualified to deliver a verdict. At first use, I liked the shoes, but they felt (to be honest) weird. To stand in a pair for the first time is something akin to standing on a step-ladder that has been placed on a foundation of grade school erasers. I seemed taller. And the rubber cleats on the soles were much more flexible than those on either Mizuno or Brooks. I could stand in one place on a hard surface and sort of twist without lifting the soles - the cleats are that rubbery. And that took some getting used to.
Once I became accustomed to the new feel, however, the SpeedCross 3s quickly became my favorite pair of trail shoes. They are lighter in weight than the other two, fit my feet better than the Cascadias (and fit as well as the Wave Ascends), and are much grippier on a variety of surfaces - particularly dry rock and wet mud/sand. The softer rubber on the soles coupled with deeper-profile cleats is a combination of components that I would not have guessed would work as well in concert as they do. The height, as I mentioned, felt strange at first. The drop from heel to toe also seemed too dramatic initially. But now it feels natural. In this case, familiarity breeds comfort.
While I have only used my Mizunos for trail marathons (Wave Ascends) and gravel ultra marathons (Wave Inspires), I would happily run either in the SpeedCross 3s. The longest distance I've logged in the Salomons was 17 miles on a relatively smooth sandy trail. Last week, however, I ran in them 5 out of six days on a variety of trails, and found no hot spots, or areas of discomfort.
This past winter the Salomons also served as my go-to snow running shoes. They performed well. The sides also endured many scrapes with hard snow and ice without showing any signs of fatigue in the rubber or wear in the fabric.
Over the past few months, the Salomons have become my favorite pair of trail shoes. They are certainly unlike other trail shoes, and thus require a bit of adjustment time. But the rewards they provide are well worth the price (slightly higher than other shoes I've bought), and the unique feel.
Clinton N.Shore Update:
I have to report that I came across my first copperhead on the Clinton trails yesterday. Even with the cold winter, the snakes are already hanging out and will certainly startle the unsuspecting runner. So pay heed.
Also poison ivy is around. I've already had my first minor encounter. Just because the leaves aren't around doesn't mean you should grab every random vine.
I'm still looking to be bitten by my first tick of the season. And I haven't stumbled into a pack of oak mites yet either. I'll let you know when either of those fun events happens.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
I'd Rather Switch (back)
The Verdict? Too Sweet.
I use flavored protein powders occasionally. They're kind of a treat, and a switch from muesli or Grape Nuts-type cereals I usually eat in the morning. After runs, I'm a pretty big believer in hemp protein. I usually have it straight in water. But for breakfast, it doesn't seem to cut it. I usually go for a blend. Sometimes I'll throw a banana or some other fruit in as well.
A few days ago I stopped by Natural Grocers. My plan was to buy the Vega Sport French Vanilla blend. But it was out of stock. So I opted for the powder shown above. Honestly, on paper it looks just as good and costs a lot less. The ingredient profile is excellent. I was relatively stoked (if one can be relatively stoked) to give it a try.
Vega's products, to me, are slightly too sweet. And if I had a complaint in general about protein blends, the candy taste would be it. I normally mix in a bit of straight hemp protein and water just to knock down the sweetness level.
But MRM's Veggie Elite blend brings sweetness to a whole new level. I would list it, for me, as almost undrinkable. I have used half the amount of powder they recommend, added a lot of water and hemp protein powder, and still find it to be overwhelmingly sweet. I'm kind of at a loss as to how to make this product work for me.
So, I'm thinking that reluctantly I'm going to have to give this products a big thumbs down - even though I am hugely in favor of lower-cost, quality vegan options in the world of protein powders.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Birthday Pi
Birthday run at far end of Riverfront Trails - Al, Adrian, and Derrick
I've got a couple of friends who are planning to run the Pi Day half marathon. The run takes place on or near 3/14 of each year. Finishers get pie. Winners get engraved pie pans (glass or Pyrex or something). Anyway, it is a fun, single-track race. I've run it in training many times, and usually volunteer to help on race day.
Anyway, my buddies Adrian and Derrick are doing the race this year. so on Saturday, I met them as well as Chris Ford, and we set out to do the long loop which would pass by all of the shorter Pi Day course loop turnarounds. Since Saturday also fell on my birthday (and I like to do long runs on my birthday), I had already planned to do a good run in the am, before the ground thawed and turned into a mud pit. We met at 8:30 am, while the temp hovered just below freezing. It was slated to be 40F by the time we finished.
A quick note here: because my birthday is Feb 22nd, the weather is normally awful. Having a day slated to be 56F in late February is a bit if a rarity. So I had planned to spend as much of the day outdoors as possible.
We ran the first half of the run on ankle-twisting hard mud ruts, created by bicycles that also use the route. On the way back, there was a sheen of mud over much of the path, making footing a bit sketchy. Still though, everyone cruised the course without too many slips (and sadly, no funny falls).
The earliest beer I've had in a long time. Hand models L-R Allen, Derrick, Chris, Adrian
In celebration of my birthday, Chris brought some nice beer to have. While it was only 10 am, is there ever really a wrong time to have New Belgium Ranger?
After lunch with the parents who loaded me up on veggie tacos and a gift certificate to Sunflower Outdoor and Bike, I played a round of disc golf before heading out for a celebratory Moscow Mule at the Bourgeois Pig, and finally, vegan pizza at Morningstar.
The great day ended as KU thumped Texas in b-ball.
Possibly my best birthday in years...
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Snowy Run = Fun (well maybe)
.JPG)
Early AM = Cold Running Conditions
With all the snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, the past week has provided and excellent opportunity to cross train. Swimming has been the top alternative thanks, in no small part, to my proximity to an Olympic-size pool. There has also been a lot of upper-body workout in the form of shoveling. The dreaded treadmill has also gotten about 30 minutes a day of use. I would love to do more, but simply can't stand the machine for more than a short time. If we only ran on treadmills, no one would ever run.
Last night I was playing ping-pong with a buddy. He and a friend are training for a trail half-marathon coming up in a few weeks. The snow has thrown a wrench into their training. I had planned to show them the trail course the past couple of weekends, but weather has prevented that outing. He mentioned that they were hoping to find some run that they could do that wouldn't be too snowy. I agreed to show them a 5 mile loop from my house into the country. We could run that and they could continue on if they wished. I warned him that there would be one absolutely extreme hill on the course. He left promising that he would meet me in the morning.
Ten minutes later I get a text that he is bailing, but his friend is still up for it. So this morning I bundled up, slammed some coffee and hit the road with a new running partner. The snow made the first mile (where we had to run on a trafficked street) a bit dicey. After that we descended a hill via a well-plowed gravel road into the countryside. In the flats, we passed a place I love that raises llamas, and another that always has geese honking as I run by. After a couple of miles we came to the turn that would take us to the base of the monster hill. My running companion went up it with ease. For once, I will admit that the incline got to me. Normally it is not too much of an issue. But it was a bit icy, and I may have consumed a couple of shots of Basil Hayden during ping-pong the night before. I made it up (though no speed records were set). The two of us then finished a second mile-long gentle climb before turning and heading home. We only encountered one area where ice covered the road surface. Basically, we used that as an excuse to practice our running form - keeping our weight directly over our feet.
When I got home I realized that my hoodie was frozen solid in several places, most noticeably around the collar, which made pulling it off a real pleasure as the ice rubbed my neck and cheeks. And as uncomfortable and unpleasant as much of the experience was, I can't think of anything else I'd rather do on a dreary, cold day.
______________
On an unrelated note - If you can handle scary (and graphic) content, check out American Horror Story. Season 1 and beyond are all available on Netflix. I was not expecting to like it at all, but am turning into a binge-watcher. Also look for House of Cards Season 2 to be out in the next few days.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
The year end summation: sort of. . . whatever
This is the last post of the year. But who cares, really. Tomorrow is simply another day in the current week. I'll only have to remember to change one digit habitually written on my checks. I probably won't be up for the stroke of midnight. So 2013-2014, BFD. Honestly.
2013 was the year that I finished the rough draft of my novel. It is/was also the year where I fianlly ran both a trail marathon and then an ultramarathon. I have an intense dislike for organized races. But I got talked into the marathon, and then, while I still had the stomach for it, I thought why not just knock out the ultra as well. So check and check. I'm now back to running for running's sake (and possibly the endorphins that the longer distances and tougher runs provide).
I'll be honest, I understand why people who have no possible chance of winning sign up for races: to establish some future goal to goad them into getting into shape to do the distance. A marathon, a half-marathon, a 10k, whatever. That's all fine. They do it and then go back to whatever lifestyle they led before they started training. But the runners I admire aren't the ones who need goals. They are instead, the ones who do it whether a race is coming up or not. Some of these types are actually avid and acomplished racers. But their defining characteristic isn't the race, it's the need to run whether or not some organized event is on the horizon.
A few weeks ago, a major college running coach I follow tweeted something that relates to this topic. Basically he wrote (paraphrasing here), "If you want to run, run. If you want to race, train." Brilliant in its simplicity. I can't argue with that at all. In a way, it describes a third type of runner - one who runs to win. I understand that mind-set as well. But I can't imagine being that type of athlete if I didn't already love to run.
If I were to draw a Venn diagram of these three types of runners, it would be easy to see that each will overlap the other where specific runners are concerned. But, since I really kind of hate Venn diagrams, I won't do that. You're welcome.
Anyway, I have very little else to say about 2013. It was a year like most others. I saw two movies at theaters - The Banff Film Festival (absolutely freaking amazing event that takes place over three nights - can't wait for it to come back in 2014), and The Dallas Buyers Club (also fantastic and moving).
My running mileage for the year is just above 1,500.
So that's that. My resolution is try to enjoy other aspects of my life a tenth as much as I do the three Rs - reading, writing, and running. I'll try, but I doubt it will happen.
2013 was the year that I finished the rough draft of my novel. It is/was also the year where I fianlly ran both a trail marathon and then an ultramarathon. I have an intense dislike for organized races. But I got talked into the marathon, and then, while I still had the stomach for it, I thought why not just knock out the ultra as well. So check and check. I'm now back to running for running's sake (and possibly the endorphins that the longer distances and tougher runs provide).
I'll be honest, I understand why people who have no possible chance of winning sign up for races: to establish some future goal to goad them into getting into shape to do the distance. A marathon, a half-marathon, a 10k, whatever. That's all fine. They do it and then go back to whatever lifestyle they led before they started training. But the runners I admire aren't the ones who need goals. They are instead, the ones who do it whether a race is coming up or not. Some of these types are actually avid and acomplished racers. But their defining characteristic isn't the race, it's the need to run whether or not some organized event is on the horizon.
A few weeks ago, a major college running coach I follow tweeted something that relates to this topic. Basically he wrote (paraphrasing here), "If you want to run, run. If you want to race, train." Brilliant in its simplicity. I can't argue with that at all. In a way, it describes a third type of runner - one who runs to win. I understand that mind-set as well. But I can't imagine being that type of athlete if I didn't already love to run.
If I were to draw a Venn diagram of these three types of runners, it would be easy to see that each will overlap the other where specific runners are concerned. But, since I really kind of hate Venn diagrams, I won't do that. You're welcome.
Anyway, I have very little else to say about 2013. It was a year like most others. I saw two movies at theaters - The Banff Film Festival (absolutely freaking amazing event that takes place over three nights - can't wait for it to come back in 2014), and The Dallas Buyers Club (also fantastic and moving).
My running mileage for the year is just above 1,500.
So that's that. My resolution is try to enjoy other aspects of my life a tenth as much as I do the three Rs - reading, writing, and running. I'll try, but I doubt it will happen.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Finally a Post
It has been the longest 'dry' period between posts for this blog. I have a couple of excuses - both true, yet both still being excuses...
Excuse#1
I took time off to go back through the first draft of my novel. Now I'm in a 2-3 month editing process that should improve a reader's experience. Writing the novel was fun. Editing can be fun as well. Just not as fun...
Excuse #2
I've been injured and depressed. I hurt myself a bit finishing the Hawk 100 Marathon. Something went a little off in my hamstring and IT band in my left leg. A couple of weeks later, on a 17mi training run, my shoe caught a clump of grass and torqued the same leg up higher in a groin-adjacent area (but not a groin pull, mercifully). So a couple of weeks later, I obliterated any chance of a speedy recovery when I completed the Prairie Spirit 50 ultra. I ran a few times after to increasing pain each outing. Finally, after run-walking the last mile of a 7 mile run at Clinton North Shore, I decided to take a couple of weeks off.
Two weeks off running... Something I haven't done in... well ever. It didn't really suck as much as I thought it would. I had my Specialized bikes - Sequoia (for road) and Rockhopper (for trails) - and an Olympic-size swimming pool 100 yards from my home's back door. I got in a few good rounds of disc golf as well. But I fretted about losing things like muscle memory and running fitness. After two weeks I decided to hit the trails., a pied, again and see how things had progressed. Somewhat frustratingly, no improvement to report as I did 5 days of 5 miles on the river trails. At least there was no decline. So it was both good and bad news...
Then, a week ago, a friend gave me a treadmill. I got it just as the weather turned nasty. And running 4 miles a day on the stupid thing seems to be helping, not hurting - and I'm not sure why. But every time my hammy gets sore or stiff, I hop on the mill and run. When we get back into the 30s or 40s this weekend, I hope to hit the trails and see if improvement has taken root. Never a fan of treadmills, I am finding that, in this case, the machine may just become my new bff.
-------
My buddies at Bearded Brothers shot me a care package of their awesome natural energy bars (and a couple of groovy discs - a mid-range and a putter). That was a real pick-me-up, and hugely appreciated. If you haven't heard of them, check them out at www.beardedbrothers.com . Get on their email list as well - they run a lot of specials.
Excuse#1
I took time off to go back through the first draft of my novel. Now I'm in a 2-3 month editing process that should improve a reader's experience. Writing the novel was fun. Editing can be fun as well. Just not as fun...
Excuse #2
I've been injured and depressed. I hurt myself a bit finishing the Hawk 100 Marathon. Something went a little off in my hamstring and IT band in my left leg. A couple of weeks later, on a 17mi training run, my shoe caught a clump of grass and torqued the same leg up higher in a groin-adjacent area (but not a groin pull, mercifully). So a couple of weeks later, I obliterated any chance of a speedy recovery when I completed the Prairie Spirit 50 ultra. I ran a few times after to increasing pain each outing. Finally, after run-walking the last mile of a 7 mile run at Clinton North Shore, I decided to take a couple of weeks off.
Two weeks off running... Something I haven't done in... well ever. It didn't really suck as much as I thought it would. I had my Specialized bikes - Sequoia (for road) and Rockhopper (for trails) - and an Olympic-size swimming pool 100 yards from my home's back door. I got in a few good rounds of disc golf as well. But I fretted about losing things like muscle memory and running fitness. After two weeks I decided to hit the trails., a pied, again and see how things had progressed. Somewhat frustratingly, no improvement to report as I did 5 days of 5 miles on the river trails. At least there was no decline. So it was both good and bad news...
Then, a week ago, a friend gave me a treadmill. I got it just as the weather turned nasty. And running 4 miles a day on the stupid thing seems to be helping, not hurting - and I'm not sure why. But every time my hammy gets sore or stiff, I hop on the mill and run. When we get back into the 30s or 40s this weekend, I hope to hit the trails and see if improvement has taken root. Never a fan of treadmills, I am finding that, in this case, the machine may just become my new bff.
-------
My buddies at Bearded Brothers shot me a care package of their awesome natural energy bars (and a couple of groovy discs - a mid-range and a putter). That was a real pick-me-up, and hugely appreciated. If you haven't heard of them, check them out at www.beardedbrothers.com . Get on their email list as well - they run a lot of specials.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Prairie Spirit 50
I ran the Prairie Spirit 50K over the weekend. The weather was about as perfect as I could have wished it to be. The temperature was high 40s to start, and low 60s at the end. It really couldn't have been better.
I decided to enter the race, as I do almost all races, at the last possible minute. I always want to see how I'm feeling, what the weather will be, are there other things that sound more fun to do on any given weekend... In short, I don't like to commit to anything like a marathon or an ultra way out in the future. For most people, having a race for which to train creates a goal. For me, that creates pressure. And I run to avoid or ease pressure, not to increase it in my life.
A couple of things worried me about the race, put on by the really talented people at Epic Ultras. One was that the course is the flattest course possible in the world. I had run 17 miles on it in the summer, and had developed odd soreness from repeatedly landing in exactly the same spot for 17 miles. Without turns, rocks, roots, down and up hills, the repetitive pounding in the same spots can add up to some pain. Second, it is odd to admit, but the word 'ultra' is a bit intimidating. I never look past any distance (ok, well maybe 5K or 10K - just kidding), because to do so is a quick way to get into trouble in a hurry. I regularly run in the teens and twenties. But that extra 10K tacked on at the end of a marathon distance seemed oddly daunting.
When it came down to the actual run, I had some pleasant and unpleasant experiences. I took off at a pace that I would now deem way too slow. I was following advice from a friend who regularly does ultras who suggested starting out at a relaxed pace and conserving energy for later. That advice, which might not have been bad for ultras taking place on courses with varied terrain, was deadly for this race. In hindsight, I should have just gone out and run at a pace that would have saved 1-2 minutes/mile for the first 17 miles, and then simply hung on for the rest of the run.
Muscle and mental fatigue really were not the issues. The pounding was the issue. Around mile 20, I began to have some structural (read tendon) twinges that put me on notice that my fun run was morphing into a challenge. Luckily I had, for some weird reason, thrown an ace bandage in my drop bag at the 17 mi aid station. Even more luckily, for some reason, I had grabbed it as I left the aid station. So, when a tendon started complaining at 20 miles, I simply wrapped it tightly and ran on, with the problem mainly solved. I grabbed the second bandage at the 23 mile aid station. I'm glad I did, because I had some more misfires higher up on the same leg. So, again, I wrapped it even tighter and ran on. The repetitive use issues diminished, but didn't go away. The final 10K or so, was actually pretty painful. But I was able to tell myself to ignore it, and think about how many endorphin were being released. I do that sometimes on long runs.
I finished relatively strong - not really tired, yet structurally suspect. In hindsight, I could've saved time by running much faster at the inception (savings would've been 17-34 min), spending a couple of minutes less at the aid stations (that added 10min total), and not stopping to pick up a beautiful ornamental box turtle and move him/her off the trail and into a more turtle-friendly looking area (3min). In the future, all except saving the turtle, are things I would choose to change.
Epic Ultras did a great job. Their people, as I wrote earlier, were friendly and helpful, and showed an obvious passion for the sport. There were plenty of pre-race, post-race, and aid station food options - even for vegans. I would strongly recommend Epic if you are looking to do a well-run ultra in this region.
Most of the race was run the way I like it, alone. On a couple of occasions, I did have the chance to run with another runner. I will confess to forgetting how nice it is to meet people who share an addiction to running. I ran for a few miles (miles 19-23) with a guy who turned out to be a vegan. His wife, who also runs, but is sensible enough not to do ultras, is also a vegan. After the race, we sat and chatted over some wonderful-tasting veggie burgers. I realize that this is not hugely interesting news to most people reading this. But for me, so much of my running life - what I would probably describe as the part of my life I most value - is done alone. It was good to be reminded that even solo experiences can be shared and celebrated.
Now, a couple of day later, I'm pretty fully recovered. The pain issues went away as soon as I stopped running. Other than a little lactic acid residue in the quads yesterday, I'm ready to go. Discretion being the wiser choice, I am going to hold off on putting in any real mileage until later in the week. Can't wait...
Final thoughts: Prairie Spirit 50. Tough? Oddly, yes. Beautiful? Absolutely. Worth the pain? Always.
A very typical view of the trail. Pretty, no?
I decided to enter the race, as I do almost all races, at the last possible minute. I always want to see how I'm feeling, what the weather will be, are there other things that sound more fun to do on any given weekend... In short, I don't like to commit to anything like a marathon or an ultra way out in the future. For most people, having a race for which to train creates a goal. For me, that creates pressure. And I run to avoid or ease pressure, not to increase it in my life.
A couple of things worried me about the race, put on by the really talented people at Epic Ultras. One was that the course is the flattest course possible in the world. I had run 17 miles on it in the summer, and had developed odd soreness from repeatedly landing in exactly the same spot for 17 miles. Without turns, rocks, roots, down and up hills, the repetitive pounding in the same spots can add up to some pain. Second, it is odd to admit, but the word 'ultra' is a bit intimidating. I never look past any distance (ok, well maybe 5K or 10K - just kidding), because to do so is a quick way to get into trouble in a hurry. I regularly run in the teens and twenties. But that extra 10K tacked on at the end of a marathon distance seemed oddly daunting.
When it came down to the actual run, I had some pleasant and unpleasant experiences. I took off at a pace that I would now deem way too slow. I was following advice from a friend who regularly does ultras who suggested starting out at a relaxed pace and conserving energy for later. That advice, which might not have been bad for ultras taking place on courses with varied terrain, was deadly for this race. In hindsight, I should have just gone out and run at a pace that would have saved 1-2 minutes/mile for the first 17 miles, and then simply hung on for the rest of the run.
Muscle and mental fatigue really were not the issues. The pounding was the issue. Around mile 20, I began to have some structural (read tendon) twinges that put me on notice that my fun run was morphing into a challenge. Luckily I had, for some weird reason, thrown an ace bandage in my drop bag at the 17 mi aid station. Even more luckily, for some reason, I had grabbed it as I left the aid station. So, when a tendon started complaining at 20 miles, I simply wrapped it tightly and ran on, with the problem mainly solved. I grabbed the second bandage at the 23 mile aid station. I'm glad I did, because I had some more misfires higher up on the same leg. So, again, I wrapped it even tighter and ran on. The repetitive use issues diminished, but didn't go away. The final 10K or so, was actually pretty painful. But I was able to tell myself to ignore it, and think about how many endorphin were being released. I do that sometimes on long runs.
I finished relatively strong - not really tired, yet structurally suspect. In hindsight, I could've saved time by running much faster at the inception (savings would've been 17-34 min), spending a couple of minutes less at the aid stations (that added 10min total), and not stopping to pick up a beautiful ornamental box turtle and move him/her off the trail and into a more turtle-friendly looking area (3min). In the future, all except saving the turtle, are things I would choose to change.
A moment with RD Eric Steele immediately after finishing in Ottowa, KS.
Epic Ultras did a great job. Their people, as I wrote earlier, were friendly and helpful, and showed an obvious passion for the sport. There were plenty of pre-race, post-race, and aid station food options - even for vegans. I would strongly recommend Epic if you are looking to do a well-run ultra in this region.
Most of the race was run the way I like it, alone. On a couple of occasions, I did have the chance to run with another runner. I will confess to forgetting how nice it is to meet people who share an addiction to running. I ran for a few miles (miles 19-23) with a guy who turned out to be a vegan. His wife, who also runs, but is sensible enough not to do ultras, is also a vegan. After the race, we sat and chatted over some wonderful-tasting veggie burgers. I realize that this is not hugely interesting news to most people reading this. But for me, so much of my running life - what I would probably describe as the part of my life I most value - is done alone. It was good to be reminded that even solo experiences can be shared and celebrated.
Now, a couple of day later, I'm pretty fully recovered. The pain issues went away as soon as I stopped running. Other than a little lactic acid residue in the quads yesterday, I'm ready to go. Discretion being the wiser choice, I am going to hold off on putting in any real mileage until later in the week. Can't wait...
Final thoughts: Prairie Spirit 50. Tough? Oddly, yes. Beautiful? Absolutely. Worth the pain? Always.
Monday, September 16, 2013
The Hawk 100 Marathon
Ran the Hawk 100 Marathon over the weekend. Well actually not over the weekend. Saturday morning to be precise. Why isn't 'preciser' a word meaning more precise? It makes sense... at least in my mind.
The weather was beautiful. The trails were as punishing as ever. The hills were brief and brutal (except for the Bunker Hill loop 13-15 miles in, where we had to run up one side in ankle deep grass, go down the other, run through flat grassland, and then up the backside of the hill and back down - great tough feature for the middle of the marathon. It gave a beautiful view of Clinton Lake, where we had come from, and how far we still had to go.
A quick aside here: I have volunteered at the race for the past two years. Since there are 50 and 100 mile races happening at the same time, the marathon is really just the little brother of the three events. The aid stations and volunteers are what can make or wreck a race. The Hawk 100 always has stunningly good, efficient, friendly, and well-stocked aid stations. I have never seen better.
Anyway, I felt pretty good through the first 21 or so miles. I have hit 'the wall' before, so I recognized the signs of its onset and mentally prepared for a challenging 5 miles to the finish. I used my 'thankful' practice; a way of approaching sports challenges that I learned from an Everest summit documentary. I mentally become thankful that there are rocks, hills, roots, descents, streams, sand, etc... Each challenge I face is something for which I am thankful, because it will make the completion of the run more meaningful.
As I ran the last few miles, I actually began to laugh, because I was starting to be thankful for every rock and minor root that I passed over. The gratitude I was expressing to nature simply seemed excessive. But it took my mind off of the fact that I was having some pretty real physiological issues with shoulder cramps (odd) and a bit if a chill that came on from unexpected dehydration.
Still, though, when all was said and done, it was a great experience. I almost never run races (and had only signed up for this marathon on the Tuesday evening, 4 days before the event). One of my friends who was also running the race seemed shocked to find me at the start on Saturday. Frankly, I was a little surprised myself.
Over the past couple of days, I've gotten some congratulatory emails from friends who mention that it is good that I officially have a completed marathon behind me. I have run the distance on other occasions for fun, but never for anything as externally notable as an actual race. I will state that it does feel pretty good. I will very likely be running the Hawk 100 Marathon again next year. And, I may add one more to my schedule - a 50K in Texas in 2014. Otherwise, while fun, racing really isn't my 'thing.' Running is.
A quick shout out to all of my fellow Lawrence TrailHawk friends. Thank you for running with me on various fun runs throughout the year. And thank you to those Hawks who didn't run so that they could help make the event so successful - I know how much you do, and I appreciate it immensely.
The weather was beautiful. The trails were as punishing as ever. The hills were brief and brutal (except for the Bunker Hill loop 13-15 miles in, where we had to run up one side in ankle deep grass, go down the other, run through flat grassland, and then up the backside of the hill and back down - great tough feature for the middle of the marathon. It gave a beautiful view of Clinton Lake, where we had come from, and how far we still had to go.
A quick aside here: I have volunteered at the race for the past two years. Since there are 50 and 100 mile races happening at the same time, the marathon is really just the little brother of the three events. The aid stations and volunteers are what can make or wreck a race. The Hawk 100 always has stunningly good, efficient, friendly, and well-stocked aid stations. I have never seen better.
Anyway, I felt pretty good through the first 21 or so miles. I have hit 'the wall' before, so I recognized the signs of its onset and mentally prepared for a challenging 5 miles to the finish. I used my 'thankful' practice; a way of approaching sports challenges that I learned from an Everest summit documentary. I mentally become thankful that there are rocks, hills, roots, descents, streams, sand, etc... Each challenge I face is something for which I am thankful, because it will make the completion of the run more meaningful.
As I ran the last few miles, I actually began to laugh, because I was starting to be thankful for every rock and minor root that I passed over. The gratitude I was expressing to nature simply seemed excessive. But it took my mind off of the fact that I was having some pretty real physiological issues with shoulder cramps (odd) and a bit if a chill that came on from unexpected dehydration.
Still, though, when all was said and done, it was a great experience. I almost never run races (and had only signed up for this marathon on the Tuesday evening, 4 days before the event). One of my friends who was also running the race seemed shocked to find me at the start on Saturday. Frankly, I was a little surprised myself.
Over the past couple of days, I've gotten some congratulatory emails from friends who mention that it is good that I officially have a completed marathon behind me. I have run the distance on other occasions for fun, but never for anything as externally notable as an actual race. I will state that it does feel pretty good. I will very likely be running the Hawk 100 Marathon again next year. And, I may add one more to my schedule - a 50K in Texas in 2014. Otherwise, while fun, racing really isn't my 'thing.' Running is.
A quick shout out to all of my fellow Lawrence TrailHawk friends. Thank you for running with me on various fun runs throughout the year. And thank you to those Hawks who didn't run so that they could help make the event so successful - I know how much you do, and I appreciate it immensely.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Annual Event
I did 5 circuits of the 3 mile course at Coleen's Sweaty Ass Run in Olathe last night. It's kind of funny that earlier in the day, when someone asked me how far I planned to run, I had mentioned that I would knock out 15 miles and then assess how many more I wanted to complete. Well, when it came time to 'assess' how I felt, I felt like the first three letters of that word. It was time to quit.
I had taken in a Vega Orange Zest Gel shot. It was pretty good tasting, but I'm not sure how well it sat. I also had a banana, a couple of small pieces of watermelon, and a few chips dipped in hummus. Really not much in the way of food. By the fourth circuit, I had developed a bit of digestive discomfort, which by the fifth lap, became a stomach ache that hurt every time a foot hit the ground.
It may have less to do with the food than with the drink. I tried my own sports drink, then switched to a tea I had brought. Next I tried the run's sports drink. Then water. Then,with stomach hurting, switched to flat ginger ale. I wasn't dehydrated. Instead it felt a little bit like too much water/liquid in the gut.
The drive home was less than pleasant. It was 9:30 ish and I was really tired and felt quite ill. My stomach was upset, and I kept looking around in case I needed to pull over and throw up. Luckily I made it home without too much drama. I knocked down a glass of rice milk with hemp protein and called it a night.
With all the above being said, 15 miles shouldn't kick my butt like it did. I've done plenty of longer runs in much more strenuous settings recently. But there is something about the course layout, the time of day (evening vs my usual a.m.), and the charge of running in an actual event that always seem to make the Sweaty and Frozen Ass runs much more challenging.
I have very few other organized runs that I'm considering doing. Maybe the Hawk 100 marathon. I'm also looking at the Big Bend Ultra. But Coleen's runs are always on my list. Unless there is a blizzard, I'll be back for more this winter.
I had taken in a Vega Orange Zest Gel shot. It was pretty good tasting, but I'm not sure how well it sat. I also had a banana, a couple of small pieces of watermelon, and a few chips dipped in hummus. Really not much in the way of food. By the fourth circuit, I had developed a bit of digestive discomfort, which by the fifth lap, became a stomach ache that hurt every time a foot hit the ground.
It may have less to do with the food than with the drink. I tried my own sports drink, then switched to a tea I had brought. Next I tried the run's sports drink. Then water. Then,with stomach hurting, switched to flat ginger ale. I wasn't dehydrated. Instead it felt a little bit like too much water/liquid in the gut.
The drive home was less than pleasant. It was 9:30 ish and I was really tired and felt quite ill. My stomach was upset, and I kept looking around in case I needed to pull over and throw up. Luckily I made it home without too much drama. I knocked down a glass of rice milk with hemp protein and called it a night.
With all the above being said, 15 miles shouldn't kick my butt like it did. I've done plenty of longer runs in much more strenuous settings recently. But there is something about the course layout, the time of day (evening vs my usual a.m.), and the charge of running in an actual event that always seem to make the Sweaty and Frozen Ass runs much more challenging.
I have very few other organized runs that I'm considering doing. Maybe the Hawk 100 marathon. I'm also looking at the Big Bend Ultra. But Coleen's runs are always on my list. Unless there is a blizzard, I'll be back for more this winter.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
A Time Out From Writing About Running
I got into an interesting Twitter exchange with one of the editors of Velo News (who was, I believe, speaking for himself, not necessarily the publication) after I had commented on a story that discussed the disparity in punishment for those 'caught' cheating in the TDF. The article had pointed out that Lance Armstrong was treated more harshly than other riders. That is a fair statement. But I had pointed out that it was reported that he had also attacked those who had accused him in such a way, and with a vehemence, that surpassed others in the sport who were using PEDs at the time. I think that the manner of denial does have an effect on the way a punishment gets handed out. Maybe it should. Perhaps it shouldn't. But a strong denial proven false does affect our emotional response.
To continue this train of thought: Suppose a gang has been defrauding a bank for years. Due to a technicality, the statute of limitations (that has run out on the imaginary crime) is eliminated for one of the miscreants. That person is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This perpetrator is still guilty whether the rest of the gang gets penalized or skates on the charges. Are they all being treated fairly? After all, they all did it. And they were all subject to the same statutes. An argument can actually be made either way.
For the record, I am in favor of going back as far as possible to try to get to the bottom of the mess that seemingly overwhelmed the sport. Cycling's governing bodies should be about fairness, even if all of its riders were not. Lance, Tyler, Joseba, Jan, Floyd, and many, many more, held our dreams on their wheels and then ripped our hearts out. Honest brokers like the Andreaus and others who questioned both rider and team integrity were dismissed by the cycling sports media. Undoubtedly, many clean riders of the era were denied victories, or even spots on teams for some of the world's top tours. We should set the record straight for them, and worry less about the feelings of those who weren't competing honestly.
To continue this train of thought: Suppose a gang has been defrauding a bank for years. Due to a technicality, the statute of limitations (that has run out on the imaginary crime) is eliminated for one of the miscreants. That person is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This perpetrator is still guilty whether the rest of the gang gets penalized or skates on the charges. Are they all being treated fairly? After all, they all did it. And they were all subject to the same statutes. An argument can actually be made either way.
For the record, I am in favor of going back as far as possible to try to get to the bottom of the mess that seemingly overwhelmed the sport. Cycling's governing bodies should be about fairness, even if all of its riders were not. Lance, Tyler, Joseba, Jan, Floyd, and many, many more, held our dreams on their wheels and then ripped our hearts out. Honest brokers like the Andreaus and others who questioned both rider and team integrity were dismissed by the cycling sports media. Undoubtedly, many clean riders of the era were denied victories, or even spots on teams for some of the world's top tours. We should set the record straight for them, and worry less about the feelings of those who weren't competing honestly.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Triathlons by any other name
Lately, I've been keeping my running between 20 and 30 miles each week. I almost never run races, and had been doing 30-40+ miles regularly. But since I have years of running as a base, coupled with an interest in other sports (swimming, biking, disc golf, etc), I don't think that the decrease will affect my overall ability to quickly ramp up for a marathon or some other distance should I choose to undertake one this year (I'm actually looking at the Big Bend Ultra in January if they ever open registration).
This past weekend, there were simply too many athletic opportunities available. On Saturday, I got up early and hit the trails with my running buddy, Chris. Except we weren't running. We took our bikes for a change - mine, a new Specialized RockHopper, and his, my former Cannondale 400 which he had just decided to buy. We cruised through the course pretty quickly. I actually had to work to keep up with him on his more nimble, yet less boulder-happy Cannondale. We finished the course satisfied with our new velos, and with the odd sensation always felt when you have biked a route that you normally run. For me, biking always seems longer. Not so much in time, as in distance. While biking the trails, for instance, I continuously think about how long the route is, and how I can't believe I can run it. When running it, however, it doesn't seem particularly long. I think your mind simply goes into different states of time/distance awareness and calculations depending on the type of sport being undertaken. That is the only explanation I have for the phenomenon.
Later on Sat, I played a round of disc golf with my buddy, Mathew. While the round itself was unremarkable, I had putts of 30 and 50 feet that went in - not a usual occurrence (at least for me).
Sunday found me back on the trails - running them at 7 am, and then biking them at 3 pm. Both times the humidity was a force to be reckoned with. And both times I did so with aplomb. I planned for the two jaunts to be my workouts for the day. On the way home from the ride, however, I received a text asking me to throw another round of golf. I threw on a new shirt and hit the links. While a lot of my game held together, a lot of it, namely putting, faltered due to fatigue.
As I reclined on my couch last night, watching a few episodes of the wonderful BBC series Coupling on Netflix, I felt that great type of exhaustion and muscle fatigue that you only get when you overdo it a bit. I always enjoy the weariness that comes as the result of going full-on athletically over the course of an extended period of time. I usually just get the feeling from running and occasionally from swimming. But the weekend's odd triathlons of running, biking, and disc golf, had served up the same feeling.
This past weekend, there were simply too many athletic opportunities available. On Saturday, I got up early and hit the trails with my running buddy, Chris. Except we weren't running. We took our bikes for a change - mine, a new Specialized RockHopper, and his, my former Cannondale 400 which he had just decided to buy. We cruised through the course pretty quickly. I actually had to work to keep up with him on his more nimble, yet less boulder-happy Cannondale. We finished the course satisfied with our new velos, and with the odd sensation always felt when you have biked a route that you normally run. For me, biking always seems longer. Not so much in time, as in distance. While biking the trails, for instance, I continuously think about how long the route is, and how I can't believe I can run it. When running it, however, it doesn't seem particularly long. I think your mind simply goes into different states of time/distance awareness and calculations depending on the type of sport being undertaken. That is the only explanation I have for the phenomenon.
Later on Sat, I played a round of disc golf with my buddy, Mathew. While the round itself was unremarkable, I had putts of 30 and 50 feet that went in - not a usual occurrence (at least for me).
Sunday found me back on the trails - running them at 7 am, and then biking them at 3 pm. Both times the humidity was a force to be reckoned with. And both times I did so with aplomb. I planned for the two jaunts to be my workouts for the day. On the way home from the ride, however, I received a text asking me to throw another round of golf. I threw on a new shirt and hit the links. While a lot of my game held together, a lot of it, namely putting, faltered due to fatigue.
As I reclined on my couch last night, watching a few episodes of the wonderful BBC series Coupling on Netflix, I felt that great type of exhaustion and muscle fatigue that you only get when you overdo it a bit. I always enjoy the weariness that comes as the result of going full-on athletically over the course of an extended period of time. I usually just get the feeling from running and occasionally from swimming. But the weekend's odd triathlons of running, biking, and disc golf, had served up the same feeling.
Monday, July 1, 2013
3 R's - Running Reading Racing
I got in a couple of runs over the weekend. One of them was good. The other, not so much. That happens. If half my runs could be as good as the good one was, I'd be a pretty lucky person. I saw two deer. One on the trails on Saturday, and one in my back yard before I had even left for the run. Unlike the past week, I had no issue with horse flies. I had thought about what might have triggered the two attacks, and came to the conclusion that dark shirts might have been a deciding factor. Both Sat and Sun I ran in light-colored shirts. The result: not one fly was spotted.
I finished Albert Camus' A Happy Death. The book was one of his first written, but wasn't published until after Camus had died. I have mixed feelings about publishing works that writers had not wanted to have published. On the one hand, it is great to see and know everything the writer wrote. On the other, the previously unpublished works can change a reader's view of the writer's oeuvre or not present the writer's actual intent. It is a fine line. I must say that I thought Camus' The First Man was a fantastic example of a work that should have been published posthumously. Camus was writing it at the time he died, and had clearly wanted to have the work published. A Happy Death, might not fall into the same category.
I decided to take a short break from the Camus fest of late, and started a book of short stories by Sartre - The Wall (Le Mur). As with some other writers and thinkers, Sartre is never at the forefront of my mind when I go to pick up something to read at the store. But every time I do read him, I am not disappointed.
I finished out the weekend hanging out with my friends at the VeloTek pavilion at 8th and Mass during the Tour Of Lawrence criterium. It was a great vantage point from which to view all of the races. VeloTek is a good all-ages team. The teams riders did very well in most races (including a victory) from the low categories up to the pro race. If you missed the Tour this year, look for it ti be going on right around the 4th of July in 2014.
I finished Albert Camus' A Happy Death. The book was one of his first written, but wasn't published until after Camus had died. I have mixed feelings about publishing works that writers had not wanted to have published. On the one hand, it is great to see and know everything the writer wrote. On the other, the previously unpublished works can change a reader's view of the writer's oeuvre or not present the writer's actual intent. It is a fine line. I must say that I thought Camus' The First Man was a fantastic example of a work that should have been published posthumously. Camus was writing it at the time he died, and had clearly wanted to have the work published. A Happy Death, might not fall into the same category.
I decided to take a short break from the Camus fest of late, and started a book of short stories by Sartre - The Wall (Le Mur). As with some other writers and thinkers, Sartre is never at the forefront of my mind when I go to pick up something to read at the store. But every time I do read him, I am not disappointed.
I finished out the weekend hanging out with my friends at the VeloTek pavilion at 8th and Mass during the Tour Of Lawrence criterium. It was a great vantage point from which to view all of the races. VeloTek is a good all-ages team. The teams riders did very well in most races (including a victory) from the low categories up to the pro race. If you missed the Tour this year, look for it ti be going on right around the 4th of July in 2014.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Nice
It was a nice week of running. 'Nice' is such a weak word, but it encompasses the nuances of this week's running. After the ass-kicking I received from the heat and humidity during the 16 miler last Saturday, even the short runs this week were a bit of a trial. What made them nice, rather than shitty, was the fact that I finished all of them. So much of running well comes from running when you really don't feel like it; pushing through the fatigue,discomfort, and (sometimes) outright pain.
So, each run this past week presented a challenge that had to be met. So, in some ways, it was a very rewarding week. Overall though, the suckiosity balanced out the rewarding nature of the runs to account for the 'nice' designation.
This weekend, the running was a bit more than nice. It was challenging, yet fun. I took to the river trails both days. I chose super early times, hitting the trails by 6:15 each morning in order to avoid the worst of the heat. Both days I felt good. The only downside for the runs occurred today when, for the first time ever, I was bombarded by horse flies over the course of a couple of miles. That had never happened before on the trails. Finally, at the most distant point, I abandoned the trails in favor of the sun and the levee. Up on the monotonous gravel that stretched as far as I could see, there was a strong wind. And a strong wind means no flies.
The remainder of the run was spent trying to get the awful song, 'Moves Like Jager' out of my head. I ended up with Cheap Tricks, 'The Flame' playing nonstop in my mind. Bizarre.
If you want some good sports docs to watch, check out Netflix for one about Ben Johnson and the doping scandal during the Seoul Olympics, and another on the rise of Usain Bolt. Both are excellent, and worth the investment of time.
So, each run this past week presented a challenge that had to be met. So, in some ways, it was a very rewarding week. Overall though, the suckiosity balanced out the rewarding nature of the runs to account for the 'nice' designation.
This weekend, the running was a bit more than nice. It was challenging, yet fun. I took to the river trails both days. I chose super early times, hitting the trails by 6:15 each morning in order to avoid the worst of the heat. Both days I felt good. The only downside for the runs occurred today when, for the first time ever, I was bombarded by horse flies over the course of a couple of miles. That had never happened before on the trails. Finally, at the most distant point, I abandoned the trails in favor of the sun and the levee. Up on the monotonous gravel that stretched as far as I could see, there was a strong wind. And a strong wind means no flies.
The remainder of the run was spent trying to get the awful song, 'Moves Like Jager' out of my head. I ended up with Cheap Tricks, 'The Flame' playing nonstop in my mind. Bizarre.
If you want some good sports docs to watch, check out Netflix for one about Ben Johnson and the doping scandal during the Seoul Olympics, and another on the rise of Usain Bolt. Both are excellent, and worth the investment of time.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Running on the PST
If you like to bike, run, or walk on a truly flat surface, but don't want to take a trip to Florida (truly the flattest state in the US), you might try the Prairie Spirit Trail. I had heard about the PST for years. My parents bike there and several friends run there regularly. However I had never been on it before yesterday.
My friend, Paul, had suggested that we pop out to Franklin County, and run the trail for 7 miles out and 7 miles back between Ottawa and Princeton (it's always surprising to me that cities in Canada and New Jersey are named after small Kansas towns). I would do one loop. He planned to do two (because he is, apparently, twice the badass that I am).
Driving toward Ottawa at 7:18 am, the NPR announcer mentioned that it was 78F; never a good temperature at that time of day. Cue ominous music. When we arrived, there were no day permit envelopes at the trail head kiosk. The PST costs something like $3.50/day to use. One can also purchase annual passes for $12.50. And one apparently should purchase a pass of some kind, because the PST authorities are serious about enforcement.
Paul mentioned that a grocery store about a half mile away sold them. So we began our run with a quick stop at the grocery store. Cue ominous music again. The store did sell passes, but they required a driver's license and social security # (seriously). Well, fuck! Not a huge problem,but not great. I ran the mile round trip back to my Element, got my dl, and presented it to the clerk who then issued me my annual pass. At that point it was probably just over 80F and humid. We'd also added just over a mile to our run.
Anyway, we took off, and after a short trafficky initial half mile or so, found ourselves on the unbelievably long, flat, and beautiful PST. Now if you are someone who does not like running on a skillet flat surface, and being able to see where you are running miles before you will arrive, then you will hate the PST. Personally, I'm a fan of wide open spaces. But I do like a hill or two (and a curve) every now and then. The PST has neither. The trail does offer pretty scenery and the ability to actually travel from town to town by pied or velo - something that is not too common around these parts.
Almost immediately, we were covered in sweat. By mile two (not counting the grocery store mile), my shorts and shirt could not have been wetter had I jumped into the little ponds we passed. Paul and I both had Nathan packs on, and we drank religiously (well, that might be a slight misnomer, because I never heard either one of us say grace). But we did drink often. It was really hot and humid.
At the turnaround point, Princeton (blink and you'll miss it), we stopped to refill our packs with water and soak our heads. We took off as the sun moved into better position to administer a beat down. For me, it was all manageable until about mile 13 or 14. That is when I really began to wilt. 15-20 miles are not distances that will kill me. But in the heat and humidity, I just couldn't get enough liquids down to hang in there. By the end of the run at 15.84 mi, I had consumed 2 liters of water/sports drink, a Powerbar Gel, and half of a Bearded Brothers Bar. Stepping on the scale later at home, I had dropped 7 pounds.
As I prepared to drive home, I cautioned Paul about the heat. He set off to redo the trip we had just completed, mentioning that if one doesn't run in the heat, one will never learn how to do it. Since I'm not in training for Badwater, I couldn't have agreed with him less.
I called Paul some hours later. He had cut the run short, and had completed about 27-28 miles. Around mile 21 he had decided that the heat was getting to him. He made it back to his car after his water had run out. But Paul is a pretty resilient guy. He sounded better than I felt when we spoke.
I'll hit the PST again several times I'm sure. I'd actually like to bike it's 58 miles sometime soon as well. The temps, however will have to be tolerable.
Here's a link from a biking website. It has a better description than any other I could find: http://bikeprairiespirit.com/
My friend, Paul, had suggested that we pop out to Franklin County, and run the trail for 7 miles out and 7 miles back between Ottawa and Princeton (it's always surprising to me that cities in Canada and New Jersey are named after small Kansas towns). I would do one loop. He planned to do two (because he is, apparently, twice the badass that I am).
Driving toward Ottawa at 7:18 am, the NPR announcer mentioned that it was 78F; never a good temperature at that time of day. Cue ominous music. When we arrived, there were no day permit envelopes at the trail head kiosk. The PST costs something like $3.50/day to use. One can also purchase annual passes for $12.50. And one apparently should purchase a pass of some kind, because the PST authorities are serious about enforcement.
Paul mentioned that a grocery store about a half mile away sold them. So we began our run with a quick stop at the grocery store. Cue ominous music again. The store did sell passes, but they required a driver's license and social security # (seriously). Well, fuck! Not a huge problem,but not great. I ran the mile round trip back to my Element, got my dl, and presented it to the clerk who then issued me my annual pass. At that point it was probably just over 80F and humid. We'd also added just over a mile to our run.
Anyway, we took off, and after a short trafficky initial half mile or so, found ourselves on the unbelievably long, flat, and beautiful PST. Now if you are someone who does not like running on a skillet flat surface, and being able to see where you are running miles before you will arrive, then you will hate the PST. Personally, I'm a fan of wide open spaces. But I do like a hill or two (and a curve) every now and then. The PST has neither. The trail does offer pretty scenery and the ability to actually travel from town to town by pied or velo - something that is not too common around these parts.
Almost immediately, we were covered in sweat. By mile two (not counting the grocery store mile), my shorts and shirt could not have been wetter had I jumped into the little ponds we passed. Paul and I both had Nathan packs on, and we drank religiously (well, that might be a slight misnomer, because I never heard either one of us say grace). But we did drink often. It was really hot and humid.
At the turnaround point, Princeton (blink and you'll miss it), we stopped to refill our packs with water and soak our heads. We took off as the sun moved into better position to administer a beat down. For me, it was all manageable until about mile 13 or 14. That is when I really began to wilt. 15-20 miles are not distances that will kill me. But in the heat and humidity, I just couldn't get enough liquids down to hang in there. By the end of the run at 15.84 mi, I had consumed 2 liters of water/sports drink, a Powerbar Gel, and half of a Bearded Brothers Bar. Stepping on the scale later at home, I had dropped 7 pounds.
As I prepared to drive home, I cautioned Paul about the heat. He set off to redo the trip we had just completed, mentioning that if one doesn't run in the heat, one will never learn how to do it. Since I'm not in training for Badwater, I couldn't have agreed with him less.
I called Paul some hours later. He had cut the run short, and had completed about 27-28 miles. Around mile 21 he had decided that the heat was getting to him. He made it back to his car after his water had run out. But Paul is a pretty resilient guy. He sounded better than I felt when we spoke.
I'll hit the PST again several times I'm sure. I'd actually like to bike it's 58 miles sometime soon as well. The temps, however will have to be tolerable.
Here's a link from a biking website. It has a better description than any other I could find: http://bikeprairiespirit.com/
Monday, June 10, 2013
Geneva and Paris
It has been some time since I last posted. But, if you are a regular reader, you will know that I have been working on a novel. Story-telling and composition of the work has taken up a lot of my time. I've also been travelling.
In May I went to Geneva for business, and then Paris for pleasure. I had the chance to run in both cities - Geneva, along the waterfront each morning, and Paris, from our flat in the 7th to Les Invalides to the Grand and Petit Palais (or Palaix - I'm not sure how to pluralize that) and then back. All the runs were great experiences, even in the cold and rain.
Paris, my favorite city, again did not disappoint. The Orsay and Montmartre were probably tops for me. But I found many pleasant days were spent simply wandering through various neighborhoods, and not at the tourist traps like the Louvre and Notre Dame.
The grandeur of the city is always um, grander than can be described. Our flat (I was travelling with friend and biz partner, Marisa and her husband, Chris), was stunning (thanks AirBnB), with just the right blend of ancient and modern. The location, almost equidistant between the Jardins Luxembourg and the Orsay was perfect as a launching point for forays into the farthest corners of the city.
I dropped too many Euros at Shakespeare and Co. I also couldn't walk by a bakery without buying a baguette (and we stopped at two bakeries that had won the best baguette in France competition in different years - those were some fricken good baguettes). Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint Louis were great places to stroll and people watch. The Marais was great for Centre Pompidou and sitting and splitting a bottle of red with a friend also visiting the city at the same time.
All in all, a fantastic experience. I hope to get back this year and spend another week in October (after the tourist crush has subsided).
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Book, Running, and (oddly) Books
I've been writing a lot lately. Not a lot here, though, so it probably seems as if I haven't been writing to anyone who reads this blog. I even wrote a long entry that I had planned to post here, but opted instead to let it hang in the purgatory of the 'written but unpublished' section of my account.
As many of my friends know, I've been working on a book for the past year. It is coming along nicely. But it takes up quite a bit of time. And time that I spend writing this blog is really time I could also spend working on the book.
The book, as some of my friends know, is a story about running. It is a work of fiction. I hope to have it completed sometime in the next 6 months (definitely by the end of the year). And for now, that is all I'll say about it.
I just wanted to let anyone who might follow this blog know the reason for the sporadic nature of my recent posts.
In terms of running, my life has been pretty good until very recently. I have been doing 30-40 miles each week, and, for the most part, really enjoying the runs. Over the past couple of weeks, however, I started to feel some pain in my knee. Never a good sign. On a recent 12-ish mile run, I torqued it several times in mud. With 5 miles left to go on my return, I knew something was not good. I walked about a quarter mile and then thought fuck it. If it is ruined, it is ruined. And I hobbled the rest of the way home at a 10-ish min/mile pace.
I made an appointment with my sports doc for Tuesday. And other than walking around NYC, and a bit of swimming and biking, I took the week off from running. Yesterday I popped out for an easy three. I ran the entire distance with a non-traditional (for me) front foot strike (I am normally mid foot). I felt little to no pain. Today I plan to try 3-5 miles and see how it goes. I am keeping my Tuesday appointment regardless of the outcome of my run. I am hopeful that my knee was just telling me it wanted a little change in mileage every now and then; and that I shouldn't continually go bigger without taking some breaks.
In other news: I finally finished the Electric Koolaid Acid Test (oddly, a book I had never read). I bought a Camus book I had never read, and plan to take that with me to Geneva and Paris as fitting Summer reading. And I picked up John Irving's, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Kindle edition (to read right now). A quick note regarding that. Every day Kindle has a sub $2 deal on 4 or more books. The deal is only for 24 hours. You either buy then or you miss it. Usually the offerings are crap (at least for my taste). But once or twice a week, there is something really good. You can get on their daily email list and see for yourself. Write me if you want a link.
I'll try to have more sometime soon.
As many of my friends know, I've been working on a book for the past year. It is coming along nicely. But it takes up quite a bit of time. And time that I spend writing this blog is really time I could also spend working on the book.
The book, as some of my friends know, is a story about running. It is a work of fiction. I hope to have it completed sometime in the next 6 months (definitely by the end of the year). And for now, that is all I'll say about it.
I just wanted to let anyone who might follow this blog know the reason for the sporadic nature of my recent posts.
In terms of running, my life has been pretty good until very recently. I have been doing 30-40 miles each week, and, for the most part, really enjoying the runs. Over the past couple of weeks, however, I started to feel some pain in my knee. Never a good sign. On a recent 12-ish mile run, I torqued it several times in mud. With 5 miles left to go on my return, I knew something was not good. I walked about a quarter mile and then thought fuck it. If it is ruined, it is ruined. And I hobbled the rest of the way home at a 10-ish min/mile pace.
I made an appointment with my sports doc for Tuesday. And other than walking around NYC, and a bit of swimming and biking, I took the week off from running. Yesterday I popped out for an easy three. I ran the entire distance with a non-traditional (for me) front foot strike (I am normally mid foot). I felt little to no pain. Today I plan to try 3-5 miles and see how it goes. I am keeping my Tuesday appointment regardless of the outcome of my run. I am hopeful that my knee was just telling me it wanted a little change in mileage every now and then; and that I shouldn't continually go bigger without taking some breaks.
In other news: I finally finished the Electric Koolaid Acid Test (oddly, a book I had never read). I bought a Camus book I had never read, and plan to take that with me to Geneva and Paris as fitting Summer reading. And I picked up John Irving's, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Kindle edition (to read right now). A quick note regarding that. Every day Kindle has a sub $2 deal on 4 or more books. The deal is only for 24 hours. You either buy then or you miss it. Usually the offerings are crap (at least for my taste). But once or twice a week, there is something really good. You can get on their daily email list and see for yourself. Write me if you want a link.
I'll try to have more sometime soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)