I'm not really sure if this is a remix or not, but as I ran today, on the last day of 2011, I thought about what a great year it was and how excited I was for 2012.
2011 was a year in which I had run/raced for 12 full months. It had highs, and lows, but as I look back I know I learned a lot from the lows and that made the highs that much more cherishable.
I broke PR after PR this year, which made for a lot of exciting races. I shaved minutes off my best times and was fortunate enough to place in my age group in many local races. BUT, the goal I wanted most, the chance to run in the Boston Marathon, escaped me. That's ok though, life is full of heartbreak and uncertainty, and if most of my challenges in life thus far are running related I'll take that, I know I won't always be that lucky.
2011 was a year where my view of health and life in general changed a great deal. I believe firmly this is the result of my running and my passion for life and how these things together continued to build upon each other. When I was training for my first marathon in February, I had just read a great article about "running mantras" that give people the strenght and motivation to push themselves when things get tough. I came up with one of my own...."Run YOUR race, no one elses". It's easy to hear the gun go off, see people passing you and lose sight of what YOU goals are. This is the mantra I used every race. It worked. I'd see people pass me, I'd want to chase them down, but didn't...I ran MY race. And you know what, I ended up passing a great deal of those people by the end of the race :)
Then I realized that this isn't just about running....it's about life too. Run YOUR race, live YOUR life. There's always going to be someone out there that's faster than me, and there's always going to be someone who has a better job, or more money than me. Who cares, I'm living MY life and I'm HAPPY with what I've created for myself. Once I looked at things that way, it was amazing how much stress melted away. It was easy to look at someone and be upset when they got the promotion I wanted, or had the nicer boat I wished I had. But 99% of the time, when I look at the big picture, I wouldn't trade MY life for THEIRS for a few upgrades. I love my life, the relationships I have, the things I have, the job I have. It might not always be rainbows and puppies, but it's mine, and that's what makes it special. Cheezy enough? Thought so.
Anyway, so long 2011, you were a challenging year, but I think I squeezed as much love, joy, and happiness as I could hope for from you. Better warn your buddy 2012......I'm comin' after him next!!! COMIN' A-YEAH-HA!!!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Remember and respect where you came from.......
"I hate this place, it's boring and there's nothing to do"
Hundreds of kids before me and hundreds of kids after me have said this or something like it about East Jordan. I know I did. But what did I know, anyway? I was a teenager in a small town, I had no idea what I really liked, or who I really was. Of course, had you tried to explain that to me at the time I'm sure I would have scoffed and took off on my BMX bike, or later taken off in my '84 S10 with two 12" subs in the back....yeah, I was THAT kid.
That's why running here is so special to me. It's the ultimate trip down memory lane. In a car, you'd blink and be through town, running allows you the chance to ABSORB all the little things that make this town special. So, take all the "mysteries of the universe", "who are we" mentality described above and combine that with running through all your childhood spots......it's simply amazing. Today was one of those days where everything seemed to click and my running and mind were synched, and running took me back to my simplist days in EJ. The days when it was just me and my friends, and our bikes. Just ridin' around.
It was snowing, which had me excited already so I finished my coffee and headed out. I had a short track workout today but figured, "what the hell" and ran the 2.7 miles to the track instead of driving. I sang, air-drummed, and even did a heel-click as I bounded down the road along the lake. Passing my dads house, the tree we used to play in as kids, past the tourist park and the beach we swam in all the time. Past Marty's (god, if that place was open in the winter.....) and the basketball courts we played at until dark during the hot summer months. Running over the bridge is my favorite part. Lake on the left, river on the right. LiTerally, my two favorite things in life. I always love seeing the new changes to downtown when I come home. New bank, new owner of "Jans" (now Chicken 'n' stuff...really?) but same 'ol hometown feel. Everywhere I look I'm flooded with great memories. Friends old homes or parents houses, routes to and from school. The old sledding hill, which today had a couple kids on it; made me so happy.
Hundreds of kids before me and hundreds of kids after me have said this or something like it about East Jordan. I know I did. But what did I know, anyway? I was a teenager in a small town, I had no idea what I really liked, or who I really was. Of course, had you tried to explain that to me at the time I'm sure I would have scoffed and took off on my BMX bike, or later taken off in my '84 S10 with two 12" subs in the back....yeah, I was THAT kid.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you "running changed my outlook on life" but, it has.....crap, I lied. When you run 40-50 miles/wk, that's a little over 1 hour per day alone with my thoughts.....sprinkle in a little "runners high" and POOF! The mysteries of the universe and purpose of life are there for the pondering. Ok, so maybe it's not exactly like that, but kind of.
Once I left EJ and got a taste of the real world I found myself with a new found respect for "home". I think I've shaped up into a pretty good guy and, although I think we all should take responsibility for our actions, I think there's a lot to be said for one's environment and how that shapes you into the person you are. That being said, I always credit my value as a person today to 1) my parents and 2) EJ. Without my parents I wouldn't have the value system I have or the work ethic that's made me successful. Without my life in EJ, I wouldn't have the appreciation for relationships and nature like I do.
That's why running here is so special to me. It's the ultimate trip down memory lane. In a car, you'd blink and be through town, running allows you the chance to ABSORB all the little things that make this town special. So, take all the "mysteries of the universe", "who are we" mentality described above and combine that with running through all your childhood spots......it's simply amazing. Today was one of those days where everything seemed to click and my running and mind were synched, and running took me back to my simplist days in EJ. The days when it was just me and my friends, and our bikes. Just ridin' around.
It was snowing, which had me excited already so I finished my coffee and headed out. I had a short track workout today but figured, "what the hell" and ran the 2.7 miles to the track instead of driving. I sang, air-drummed, and even did a heel-click as I bounded down the road along the lake. Passing my dads house, the tree we used to play in as kids, past the tourist park and the beach we swam in all the time. Past Marty's (god, if that place was open in the winter.....) and the basketball courts we played at until dark during the hot summer months. Running over the bridge is my favorite part. Lake on the left, river on the right. LiTerally, my two favorite things in life. I always love seeing the new changes to downtown when I come home. New bank, new owner of "Jans" (now Chicken 'n' stuff...really?) but same 'ol hometown feel. Everywhere I look I'm flooded with great memories. Friends old homes or parents houses, routes to and from school. The old sledding hill, which today had a couple kids on it; made me so happy.
Since I had to run a track workout, I figured it was appropriate to "take my talents to Boswell Stadium". It was pretty cool to go back to place where I had run track briefly and cheered on my friends during football games. As soon as I walked in I could see it all like it was yesterday. Stadium lights on, little kids playing nerf football by the concession stand. "Back in Black" blaring over the loud speaker while our team took the field. How surreal was this? I'm standing here, 11 years outta H.S., training for my second marathon on my xmas break and doing it on my old home track.....life is a funny/awesome thing sometimes.
The workout itself wasn't that great. I kept getting snow packed into the gaps in my tread and I was sure I was going to destroy my knees but I made it. I wasn't sure I would even want to run home again, but I had so much fun on my way there, I decided to hell with it and jogged back. I even took time to stop at a friends house, Luke Meredith, to catch up. That's what makes this town special to me, the relationships that form out of living in small town, USA. We all grew up knowing each other from grade school onward, hard to beat friends like that. And if there's one thing I can say with certainty, EJ Boys are the best friends you could ever have. I have a lot of friends, a lot of great friends, but EJ boys have your back no matter what, will greet you each time with a genuine smile, and open arms for a hug. From there it's good conversation and good beer drinking and in 10 minutes, it's like we never left each other.
That's why I love EJ so much and I love coming back to pay hommage to the people and places that made me who I am today. Thank you.
Monday, December 19, 2011
snow, wind, running...Pure Michigan
Week 7 completed.....enter the holidays!! I actually really like running on vacation. It's all I have to do......get up, eat, run. From there it's free time.....take a nap, eat, take another nap. Not ready to run after breakfast, take a nap, then run. I love it.
Week 7 ended with a 13 mile easy run. I was in Schoolcraft (south of Kzoo) staying with Josh and Katie and woke up Saturday morning with exactly what I needed to motivate me that morning....SNOW! That might seem odd to some, why would snow motivate me? I love Michigan and to me, the fresh snow that morning symbolized why I love this state so much. There was no snow when I got there the night before so I was now pumped to get on my shoes and head out.
Schoolcraft is nice and flat, and has some great backroads for running. As soon as I headed out I was emersed in the sounds and smells of Michigan in the winter. I could smell the woodfire fireplaces, I could hear was the snow crunching underneath my feet, and see my breath leaving me on each exhale. Running like this is truly a beautiful thing. The snow hit my face lightly, not to a point of annoyance, but just enough to remind me it was there. Off to my left and right I saw empty farm fields with snow dusted equipment, like we were all on vacation together.....I'm still amazed when running 13 miles can be so relaxing :)
It's nice running in a new area because you're constantly looking around, taking in all the new surroundings. I love admiring the differences in the land, homes, agriculture between Michigan and NC. Probably the one that made me the happiest was right before I was suppose to turn around. I saw a "T" in the road up ahead, and when I got to it I saw a lake! You dont get surprised by random lakes in Asheville, and my captains blood rushed as soon as I saw it! How perfect was this.
Week 7 ended with a 13 mile easy run. I was in Schoolcraft (south of Kzoo) staying with Josh and Katie and woke up Saturday morning with exactly what I needed to motivate me that morning....SNOW! That might seem odd to some, why would snow motivate me? I love Michigan and to me, the fresh snow that morning symbolized why I love this state so much. There was no snow when I got there the night before so I was now pumped to get on my shoes and head out.
Schoolcraft is nice and flat, and has some great backroads for running. As soon as I headed out I was emersed in the sounds and smells of Michigan in the winter. I could smell the woodfire fireplaces, I could hear was the snow crunching underneath my feet, and see my breath leaving me on each exhale. Running like this is truly a beautiful thing. The snow hit my face lightly, not to a point of annoyance, but just enough to remind me it was there. Off to my left and right I saw empty farm fields with snow dusted equipment, like we were all on vacation together.....I'm still amazed when running 13 miles can be so relaxing :)
It's nice running in a new area because you're constantly looking around, taking in all the new surroundings. I love admiring the differences in the land, homes, agriculture between Michigan and NC. Probably the one that made me the happiest was right before I was suppose to turn around. I saw a "T" in the road up ahead, and when I got to it I saw a lake! You dont get surprised by random lakes in Asheville, and my captains blood rushed as soon as I saw it! How perfect was this.
Needless to say, this was pretty much the highlight of my run and day. Now, onto EJ for the remainder of my break, and lots more running. I'm really looking forward to this!!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
wk 6, it's not how you start, it's how you finish.....
225 miles down.....611 to go.
This week was all about being flexible and testing of my patience....which I don't have. Monday it was raining and 40 out during lunch. As much as I hate running on a treadmill I did it. I hated it so much I only ran 3 miles, and planned to run 3 more at the Rush after work.......only had to do ONE MEASLY MILE before my abs class so Mondays total: 4 out of 5...no biggie, but I never like starting out the week behind schedule.
Tuesday was sprinkling but the temperature was ok enough to be able to run my workout outside on the track. 3x1200 @ 5K pace, then 2 miles @ 10K pace. I ran all 1200's at least 12sec faster than normal, and my 2 miles after were almost 10sec faster than 10K pace. Not too bad.
Wednesday.....RAIN, AGAIN!!!!! This time I was supposed to run 6 miles but I left work late for lunch and could only get 4 miles in on the treadmill.....now I'm 3 miles behind for the week.....DAMN IT!
Thursday was supposed to be a hill workout, about 2.25 miles, but since my race is gonna be flat, I called an audible and ran 20 min alternating 30sec @ 30 sec faster than 5K, and 30sec jogging. With warmup and cooldown that got me 3.5 miles, so I gained back 1.25 miles.
The week thus far was one that, although I ran well, was frustrating because of all the schedule changes. Friday brang some unexpected motivation and provided a nice mental shift.
Again my schedule was altered due to our department lunch so I was forced to run after work. I was able to get out by 4 and got to Biltmore Park and ready by 4:30, just enough daylight left. The last thing I felt like doing was running, the week was over and I just wanted to be home....oh well, I toughed out the first 3 miles and then my head cleared a bit and I finally started to enjoy things. Coming back into Biltmore Town Square, all the lights in the trees came on. It was awesomely motivating and a fantastic way to finish my run. I needed this because Saturday was gonna be tough.
Goal pace workouts have thus far been my weakest workout and have manifested into some awesome anxiety that breaks me down mentally. I'm getting ready to go into the "Holiday Crunch" so I really wanted to do well today. 6 miles at goal pace.....figure it out.
1) Fuel properly - Bagel, coffee, milk, cheerios, chia seeds. Good carbs, little protein, caffeine, and chia seeds for the added boost!
2) Proper clothing - CWX Compression tights, new shoes, gloves, iPod.
3) Longer warmup - usually I run a mile warmup for this type of thing. It was pretty cold so I thought two might be better.
Off to a great start, my iPod died before I finished warming up! This might have actually been the best thing that could have happened. It made me pay attention to my body the entire time. My breathing, my gate, my posture.....I was running a diagnostic check the entire time. It's a surreal experience when you feel like your body and mind are one. Your clipping along the roads hearing nothing but your own feet hitting the ground and your breathing. I'm getting good at knowing my pace off these things alone....something I used to scoff at when I heard other runners talk about being able to do. I changed my strategy for this run versus what I've done in the past for this type of run. I was gonna let myself run a little behind in the beginning and then make it up when my legs felt best. First mile was 6:48, 8sec behind....perfect. I needed to make up 8 seconds in 5 miles, no sweat. I had that made up by the end of mile 3. I knew my body well enough by now I knew I could only get faster going back.....and I did. Mile 4, 6:36; mile 5, 6:29; mile 6:14!!! Total avg pace: 6:33, 7 secs faster than goal! FINALLY a good goal pace workout!!
Oh, and the best part was turning back onto US25....they had the entire street closed for a parade, which had just started but a mile up the road. The road was lined with hundreds of people on each side, and I decided since the road was closed.....I'd run right down the middle. I never get to do that except for a race, so I took advantage of it. It was funny because it felt like I was racing alone and no one was cheering for me....they probably all were wondering what the hell I was doing, but I loved it :) A great way to end a great workout and a great end to a tough week.
I just hope I can keep this going through the upcoming holidays. It's a snowy couple weeks of training coming up!!
This week was all about being flexible and testing of my patience....which I don't have. Monday it was raining and 40 out during lunch. As much as I hate running on a treadmill I did it. I hated it so much I only ran 3 miles, and planned to run 3 more at the Rush after work.......only had to do ONE MEASLY MILE before my abs class so Mondays total: 4 out of 5...no biggie, but I never like starting out the week behind schedule.
Tuesday was sprinkling but the temperature was ok enough to be able to run my workout outside on the track. 3x1200 @ 5K pace, then 2 miles @ 10K pace. I ran all 1200's at least 12sec faster than normal, and my 2 miles after were almost 10sec faster than 10K pace. Not too bad.
Wednesday.....RAIN, AGAIN!!!!! This time I was supposed to run 6 miles but I left work late for lunch and could only get 4 miles in on the treadmill.....now I'm 3 miles behind for the week.....DAMN IT!
Thursday was supposed to be a hill workout, about 2.25 miles, but since my race is gonna be flat, I called an audible and ran 20 min alternating 30sec @ 30 sec faster than 5K, and 30sec jogging. With warmup and cooldown that got me 3.5 miles, so I gained back 1.25 miles.
The week thus far was one that, although I ran well, was frustrating because of all the schedule changes. Friday brang some unexpected motivation and provided a nice mental shift.
Again my schedule was altered due to our department lunch so I was forced to run after work. I was able to get out by 4 and got to Biltmore Park and ready by 4:30, just enough daylight left. The last thing I felt like doing was running, the week was over and I just wanted to be home....oh well, I toughed out the first 3 miles and then my head cleared a bit and I finally started to enjoy things. Coming back into Biltmore Town Square, all the lights in the trees came on. It was awesomely motivating and a fantastic way to finish my run. I needed this because Saturday was gonna be tough.
Goal pace workouts have thus far been my weakest workout and have manifested into some awesome anxiety that breaks me down mentally. I'm getting ready to go into the "Holiday Crunch" so I really wanted to do well today. 6 miles at goal pace.....figure it out.
1) Fuel properly - Bagel, coffee, milk, cheerios, chia seeds. Good carbs, little protein, caffeine, and chia seeds for the added boost!
2) Proper clothing - CWX Compression tights, new shoes, gloves, iPod.
3) Longer warmup - usually I run a mile warmup for this type of thing. It was pretty cold so I thought two might be better.
Off to a great start, my iPod died before I finished warming up! This might have actually been the best thing that could have happened. It made me pay attention to my body the entire time. My breathing, my gate, my posture.....I was running a diagnostic check the entire time. It's a surreal experience when you feel like your body and mind are one. Your clipping along the roads hearing nothing but your own feet hitting the ground and your breathing. I'm getting good at knowing my pace off these things alone....something I used to scoff at when I heard other runners talk about being able to do. I changed my strategy for this run versus what I've done in the past for this type of run. I was gonna let myself run a little behind in the beginning and then make it up when my legs felt best. First mile was 6:48, 8sec behind....perfect. I needed to make up 8 seconds in 5 miles, no sweat. I had that made up by the end of mile 3. I knew my body well enough by now I knew I could only get faster going back.....and I did. Mile 4, 6:36; mile 5, 6:29; mile 6:14!!! Total avg pace: 6:33, 7 secs faster than goal! FINALLY a good goal pace workout!!
Oh, and the best part was turning back onto US25....they had the entire street closed for a parade, which had just started but a mile up the road. The road was lined with hundreds of people on each side, and I decided since the road was closed.....I'd run right down the middle. I never get to do that except for a race, so I took advantage of it. It was funny because it felt like I was racing alone and no one was cheering for me....they probably all were wondering what the hell I was doing, but I loved it :) A great way to end a great workout and a great end to a tough week.
I just hope I can keep this going through the upcoming holidays. It's a snowy couple weeks of training coming up!!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
A transformation is brewing.......
It was 55 degrees out, mostly sunny, and I came back into my subdivision after an 11 "easy" run. I felt fantastic. Legs were strong, lungs were clear, herat rate was right where I wanted it. Pace: 7:44? Damn, that's awesome. 9 months ago that was my goal marathon pace, now it was an easy stroll. Week 5 complete. 191.85 miles ran, 644 to go. Something was changing.....not exactly sure what it is, but I like it. I feel like my body and mind are finally synched.......if this were NBA JAM, I'm pretty sure you'd see me running with flames coming off me because...I'M ON FIRE!!
So what's changed? I thought about this a lot throughout the week. I'd been running ok, ups and downs, but this week was great. I think I can boil things down to two major changes.....
1) Mental Training: When I ran my first marathon, I was also reading Hal Higdon's book "Marathon", which I might add is an amazing book if you're training for a marathon for the first time. Reading that book in parallel with my training got my mind in a place where I developed a good mental balance that benefitted my training. As I read I gained confidence because I was learning about things I didn't know about. Obviously, reading that book again won't do the same thing, so I needed something that would create the same stimulation and motivation. Introduce "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.
I started reading this just before my training but never really got too far. Now I'm making a habit of reading it a little every night and I think it's making a difference. The premise (I'm not that far) is about a writer/runner from Men's Health tracking down a hidden tribe of "Super Athlete, Endurance Runners" in Mexicos Copper Canyons. Reading about this tribe is (as the Honey Badger would say) pretty bad-ass. Needless to say I know wanna be a part of the Tarahumara tribe on each run. Whatever, I think it's helping :) This book also helped me discover my #2 change of the week....
2) Ch-ch-ch-CHIA (Seeds)
I read about these seeds in Born to Run and I had to check this out for myself. Yes, the same ones used in the infamous Chia Pet.... Apparently they were what the tribe used as their fuel for these long ass runs. I looked online and it looked legit. Here's the stats I found:
•2 times the protein of any other seed or grain,
•5 times the calcium of milk, plus boron which is a trace mineral that
helps transfer calcium into your bones,
•2 times the amount of potassium as bananas,
•3 times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries
•3 times more iron than spinach
•copious amounts of omega 3 and omega 6, which are essential fatty acids...
You can eat these raw, like on a salad, or cook them, which I've heard hurts their nutritional value. I have been making Chia Gel. Add 1/3 cup seeds, 2 cups water......stir and let sit. It looks gross as hell, and has the consistency of rubber cement. But it really has no taste, so I just take a table spoon, stir it into some juice, shoot it back and BAM! I've only used for a few days but I gotta say I did feel rejuvinated after only about 10 min of taking it. It slows the use of water and transformation of complex carbs so basically it's like adding a fuel additive to your car, thus improving gas mileage.......I guess.
It's hard to keep yourself motivated for 20 wks and its a lot like a sports team. You need to peak at your race. I'll take any advantage I can get and welcome those things I find along the way that give me a kick in the ass and just hope my training shows it. I'm feelin' pretty damn good right now and I think I'm on to something here.......let's see if we can make it last!!
So what's changed? I thought about this a lot throughout the week. I'd been running ok, ups and downs, but this week was great. I think I can boil things down to two major changes.....
1) Mental Training: When I ran my first marathon, I was also reading Hal Higdon's book "Marathon", which I might add is an amazing book if you're training for a marathon for the first time. Reading that book in parallel with my training got my mind in a place where I developed a good mental balance that benefitted my training. As I read I gained confidence because I was learning about things I didn't know about. Obviously, reading that book again won't do the same thing, so I needed something that would create the same stimulation and motivation. Introduce "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.
2) Ch-ch-ch-CHIA (Seeds)
I read about these seeds in Born to Run and I had to check this out for myself. Yes, the same ones used in the infamous Chia Pet.... Apparently they were what the tribe used as their fuel for these long ass runs. I looked online and it looked legit. Here's the stats I found:
•2 times the protein of any other seed or grain,
•5 times the calcium of milk, plus boron which is a trace mineral that
helps transfer calcium into your bones,
•2 times the amount of potassium as bananas,
•3 times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries
•3 times more iron than spinach
•copious amounts of omega 3 and omega 6, which are essential fatty acids...
You can eat these raw, like on a salad, or cook them, which I've heard hurts their nutritional value. I have been making Chia Gel. Add 1/3 cup seeds, 2 cups water......stir and let sit. It looks gross as hell, and has the consistency of rubber cement. But it really has no taste, so I just take a table spoon, stir it into some juice, shoot it back and BAM! I've only used for a few days but I gotta say I did feel rejuvinated after only about 10 min of taking it. It slows the use of water and transformation of complex carbs so basically it's like adding a fuel additive to your car, thus improving gas mileage.......I guess.
It's hard to keep yourself motivated for 20 wks and its a lot like a sports team. You need to peak at your race. I'll take any advantage I can get and welcome those things I find along the way that give me a kick in the ass and just hope my training shows it. I'm feelin' pretty damn good right now and I think I'm on to something here.......let's see if we can make it last!!
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