YMCA Running

I was passing rocks and trees like they were standing still!

Well, it's in the books, # 47 - a 33 mile Ultra Marathon trail run that was every bit as brutal as I expected it to be. Was I fast, no? Did I finish under the deadline, yep! It was also beautiful, well planned, spectacular weather and did I mention brutal? I can handle going up and down hill, but throw in roots, rocks, and no reggae and it gets tough. Plus if you've read along with me, you're familiar with my former (I love using the word 'former') knee issues. Well everything 'south of the border' is sore, but in good working order. I was more than a little apprehensive on the rocky downhills with my history, but now that history IS history. So it's back to running as usual with full confidence. I've lost a lot of speed (for me, compared to oh say, Ryan Hall, I never had any) but fortunately with a little (okay, a lot) of work I can regain a little of it. I can't say I enjoy speed work (can't say I enjoy 33 mile ultra marathons either) but it is tremendously rewarding and it helps keep your metabolism 'revved' up. If you run say 4 miles 5 days a week with no variety, in the beginning your body may burn (for ex.) 500 calories +/- per run. But after your body adapts to the 'sameness', then the number of calories burned will decline. If you vary your distance and your pace then your body can never quite adapt and it functions 'all out'. Lastly, my travails, recovery and return to distance running has reminded me of something; it never rings midnight. I could have quit running, whined about my knee - well, I did whine about it; blame it on my knee and just give up. But something inside me wouldn't let me give it up, was it as Dupree says in 'You, Me, and Dupree', my inner 'ness', that Danny-ness that kept me running even when it hurt like the dickens (what does 'the dickens' hurt like - really)? I don't know. I just know that I kept 're-committing' to my running and day by day, week by week, with the blessings of Saint Mary (I'll tell that story soon enough)the pain began disappearing and the running became fun again. So here's my thought - if you have a bad day, month...whatever, and things, circumstances really go against you. It can be as simple as blowing your diet, losing a friend, or skipping a weeks worth, or more of runs. Don't throw in the towel, just re-commit, start over, you can you know. Find your mantra, quit listening to the negative chatter in your head. It won't go away but you can NOT listen to it and re-commit to yourself and that 'ideal' you have. Believe me, I have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of negative voices/chatter and if I can do it - you can. just like that wonderful song of Sinatra's, "take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again."

We got some catching up to do!

It's been a while since we 'talked' and in that time I completed my first marathon in 15 months which is a big deal when you consider I was doing 4 or 5 a year. So now number 46 is in the bag and the best part is that there was no pain, nothing, zip, zero; I mean outside of the regular tiredness that you experience in a marathon. so I'm very encouraged - so encouraged that I signed up for the Oak Mountain 50K (that's 31 miles - it's also nuts!). I figure while I'm cleaning out my 'mental' closet I may as well knock this one out too. You see I started it 2 years ago and sprained my ankle 2 miles into it and held on for 21 miles. By then the pain was intense enough to make me realize that since I wasn't getting paid for running and wouldn't get paid even if I won the stupid race; what in Sam Hill was I doing still running on one leg.

So here I go, back running and feeling as good as I used to - a bit slower but that'll come with time and a little work, okay a LOT of work. But you know that's the great thing about 'life' - every day is a do -over. So rather than beat yourself up for what you did or didn't do or as I call it 'listening to the negative chatter', just re-commit. All those resolutions you made in January, it's not over. Simply re-commit. one thing running has taught me is that we don't get better in a flash,we get better in slow motion. One day at a one step at a time, one run at a time. So if you've fallen off the exercise wagon or you've been meaning to get on ,don't listen to the negative chatter in your head that talks you out of stuff - and by the way after ti talks you out of stuff what do you do? Beat yourself up for not doing what you should have done! Just, re-commit. Everyday is a new day, a new chance to fix or repair or re-start ANYTHING. I learned that lesson after 15 long painful months and I've got a lot of stuff to re-commit to. Whoever said miracles and life have to come is a flash of light - you are a miracle and your life is a miracle. it's just taking place one day at a time. So start today, re-commit to yourself and your plans and go Get 'Em Tiger!