YMCA Running

A simple goal really

A lot of times I write about thoughts that occur to me while on the run, but a lot of 'bloggers' are more personal writing about themselves, their experiences and so on. I did a little of that in the beginning but as in everyday life there's only so many times you can repeat something so that even if you're telling different folks you get sick of it. Well, that's how I felt about my knee. I was frustrated because I couldn't run without pain,so I didn't run. Well let me tell you one thing mister, not running at all was even more painful so I just sort of grinned (figuratively speaking) and beared it (bore it? whatever...) and soldiered on. I got so that I didn't run at my usual times in my usual places because people would ask (and I am immensely grateful for their kindness and thoughtfulness, really - I WAS THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM) and I just got tired of saying, a) it's about the same or someone 'new' would say, b)"oh, what's wrong with it/what did you do.....*sigh* anyway I have no idea what has happened in the last 10 days (well, privately I do), but it's a miracle! My knee has improved dramaticaly just recently and only now rarely twinges, and compared to the pain I was in, it's barely worth mentioning.

I'm going through all this because Saturday December 8 I will be running in my first marathon since last December 10. To some that's not a big deal, but I usually run 2 -4 a year; and I must confess I'm a little apprehensive about the Atlanta Half Marathon and Memphis Half too. Man, I used to do half marathons for snacks! Anyway, goals....I usually go into every marathon with 3 goals 1) Best Case - a time I think I'm capable of if Jupiter aligns with Mars and all systems are 'Go!'. 2) a more realistic goal time-wise, that I really should be able to do; and 3) finish and get the medal. Any of those 3 are worthy accomplishments and it's very common, too common in fact for the runners I coach (New Runners in my 'Couch' program including recent graduates, or runners I coach individually) to come to me before their first race of a distance and say, "Well I hope to do it in XXX time." I have a  young lady who'll run her first half Marathon next weekend tell me her time goal. My suggestion was simple,"Shouldn't your goal be to finish?" I mean to finish a half marathon (13.1 miles) is a great achievement for 99% of the population and if for whatever reason she doesn't hit her 'time goal' there will be some disappointment. Why? why not enjoy the entire event and if it's a bad day, and we all have them and she doesn't finish or doesn't finish well - why set yourself up for failure?

I have no idea how long it will take me to run Charlotte, but I do know what my goal is: to be grateful for every step, even the ones that may in the last miles hurt. I had something that I love very much (recreationaly), my -pain free- running, taken away from me for a while and now I've got it back. I'm not in the 'running shape' I was in, I can't run 5K's, 10K's, or any distance as fast as I was (though I hope to change that - one step at a time, though); but I am running pain free and my goal for Charlotte?  A simple goal really; enjoy running pain free. It sounds easy, but if you're a runner have you tried to just go out and enjoy running recently? No time, no distance, not really 'training' - hh and by the way, the leaves are gorgeous right now aren't they? I love running through the neighborhoods and looking at the trees.

In Chariots of Fire Eric Liddell (a real person by the way) said of his faith and ability to run (and this quote as pertains in the movie on whether or not to run a certain 'race') said, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

Well, I'm not fast, but sometimes I swear I can feel His pleasure when I run, and I know I'm going to feel it in Charlotte.

If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane.

This is the time of year when people start to think about a fitness program. They look towards the holidays and see mass consumption of calories in their immediate future, and they start to think that "right after the holidays I need to lose some weight," and that's not a bad plan. Over 50% of all people who start a fitness program drop out and 50 % of those drop out after the first week! My dad is 81 years old, when he was born the life expectancy for the male was 62 years, now its in the mid 70's. However he is the exception, sadly most if not all of his contemporaries are gone. They died from the lifestyle and knowledge (or lack thereof) of their times. I'm not one for revisionist history, we have to view history in the context of the times. Men... okay people, smoked cigarettes and ate beef 7 days a week because they didn't really know better. When I was in high school back in 19none of your business, our (football) pre-game meal was steak and we ate it at a couple of hours before the  game. We didn't stop practice for 'water breaks' regardless of the heat and there was a salt tablet dispenser right there in the locker room, that's what we (the coaches and players) knew. The difference in the generations is that now we have the benefit of more research, more science, more time. Many of the prior generation died of heart disease even though they may have quit many of their 'bad habits' late in life. It's worth pointing out that heart disease is NOT an old person's disease; it is a young person's disease. It just takes 20 years to manifest itself; and by the way ladies, the #1 one KILLER of women is heart disease. The point is this, don't set your goal(s) to be to lose 10 pounds (or however many) - set a goal to complete a 5K, or walk/run a mile, then a mile and a half. As you achieve these goals you'll notice the inches and pounds begin to melt away. Sometimes it's good to 'just go out for a run' and if your performance driven and try to make each run further or faster try to go run once a week without your watch, or run a route backwards, or just go explore like running downtown and then detouring through Oak Hill Cemetery (can't run fast there and it's really cool). If you always just run, DO try to run a little faster, surprise your body, go a little further, aim for a 10K or something different. Your body is a remarkable machine, it will adapt to whatever you train it for - but if you do the same thing day after day, it adapts to the most efficient (least fuel/calorie burning) method of operation.....What's one definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Another way of putting it; if you always do what you've always done - you'll always get what you've always got. Be the change you wish to see.

No need for speed or 'The last shall be first"....

What an incredible weekend! The Vulcan Run (Birmingham's premier 10K) was held in perfect weather and went off without a hitch. Every one of my 'Couch to10K' runners (close to 60 strong) who started finished and finished strong; now on to the Half Marathon! The funny (not funny ha ha, funny odd) thing to me is how virtually every one of them said something similar to, "Wow! I can't believe I did it! I mean I was slow, but I finished." Excuse me?!?! Why can't we just be happy with or success? I preach and preach from the first run, "Do not worry about speed, just cover the distance." And I hear the excitement, then the "but"...I hate buts (those with one 't') because it minimizes the accomplishment. Listen, for most of us speed is really an overrated commodity in running. I know, I know; but I truly believe that consistency is more important; consistency of pace, consistency of runs per week, consistency of training and sticking with the program. If you go out too fast you are almost certain to  'blow up'; for the marathon, the half, or a 10K you must run at the speed at which you trained. If you trained at a 10:00 minute pace what in the thump makes you think you'll run a race at an 8:00 minute pace? Now, some are faster than others - granted, some are also taller, shorter, blond, cuter (thank you) we're just different. Let's just do one thing at a time; first we'll conquer the distance, then we can go faster. Here's a great example - The New York City Marathon was held last Sunday and 37,000 +/- runners were off at the gun and for many it was a spectacular day, I love this race. 28 hours after the start gun the final runner crossed the finish line - TWENTY EIGHT HOURS! Her name is Zoe Kaplowitz and it was her 20th marathon. She also has MS (multiple sclerosis) and diabetes and walks with crutches. In 1994 I ran my first marathon, the NYC Marathon and by chance it was Zoe's first as well. When she finished the next morning no one knew about her and an anonymous tip led to one reporter being at the finish line. It was deserted, all the celebration and hoopla had disappeared into the night before and the grandstands had been removed. The painting on the Central Park path was the only way you could tell it was the finish. As Zoe struggled to the line the camera man and reporter were both in tears marveling at her accomplishment, and moved by her determination. Think she was concerned with speed? Now talk to me about her 28 hour marathon not being an accomplishment. So I don't always need to hear about speed, if you finish, you WIN! We need to remember why and how we started and regardless of how long it takes us to get to the finish line, WE HAVE WON!