Question re: Addiction!

Pacemaker mentioned it might be interesting to discuss Running as an Addiction. Is it possible?

Dictionary.com defines addiction as: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

Does this fit your profile? Do you feel like running would cause sever trauma? What is severe trauma?

My response:
There is evidence that suggests that excercise, i.e. running, stimulates the same areas of the brain that are stimulated by drug use and overeating, both of which are recognized addictions. Stimulating these areas through drug use and/or eating eventually causes the destruction of the receptors that trigger those "good feelings" in the brain. This leads to a Teufelskreis of stimulation and destruction, requiring more drugs/food to stimulate them again, destroying more receptors, etc.
Running on the other hand stimulates these receptors, but for some reason this stimulation creates more receptors. Therefore, following the Teufelskreis of drugs, we stimulate, create receptors, then stimulate, create, each time the stimulation is greater as there are more receptors. In the end, it seems it's possible to become more addicted to running than to drugs. With the receptors so easily stimulated, it seems one could become obsessed with stimulating them.

I know that when I haven't run in awhile it feels great to do so. The high lasts for quite sometime. It also feels really great to be on a roll. For example, 4 weeks without a missed run has me even more committed to fitting in the 9 mile run I will have to do in Indianapolis than I otherwise would have been.

My theory is that running is an addiction. It does effect my life. I go for 3 hour runs. When you do that, somethings got to give. It may not be missing work, but something else has to suffer. One could argue, as I sure as hell would, that that 3 hour run increases my quality of life, making it all that much better. But 3 hours on the trail, is three hours not spent chatting with my partner or reading for school. It's an organized addiction, one I can stop doing, but not without emotional and physical trauma. Gained weight, depression, longing for that runners high. All are consequences of suddenly stopping a running regimine.

What do y'all think? Is running an addiction? Are you addicted? Is it possible/necessary to break the addiction?

Brokeback Hardcore

I cannot tell a lie, last weeks runs were great. I didn't have any serious problems getting them done, unlike the last 3 months when I was hobbling like a gimp. Still a few problems with ship pain, but as these completely disappear after awhile I'm confident they are not shin splints.
My 8 mile run on Saturday was great. It was the same 8 mile we all once ran in Golden Gate Park. The 3 miles past the carousel and conservatory of flowers and then the 5 miles out to the beach and back. Because the Frontrunners don't have an 8-mile run, I ran the three before they all got there at 9 and then joined in for the 5-mile. I ran with a guy for the 5 and he drove me to exhaustion. I ended up finishing the whole thing in 73 minutes. That's just a hair over 9 minutes/mile and the first 3 averaged closer to 10. I felt great. The guy was a little odd, and certainly wasn't doing much to help my run. When he said to me, "Are you gonna run along the beach? Or are you going to stop?"
I responded, "I don't have a choice, I have to keep going."
His response was, "O, you always have a choice no one is making you do anything you don't want to do."
I felt like saying, "Listen Dude, the right answer is, 'Let's keep going, I can't quite you either!" I kept running and he stopped trying to convince me to stop running, even though I held my tongue. It was a beautiful day here in the city, one of those rare fall days that the midwest takes for granted. Sunny, but just a little cool. Just barely too cool for short sleeves at a cafe, but not quite cold enough for long sleeves. In a word: FABULOUS!!!!
That was all Saturday, and per instructions I haven't run since. Now problems have developed. Strangely, I think it's sympathy pains, my ITB is acting up on my left leg. It's the same one you may remember being a problem when we first started training. Or was that a longer time ago? I can't remember. Anyway, haven't had trouble with it in awhile. I'm going to massage it on the roller tonight and then maybe some ice. I hope it's better tomorrow. I have to do 4 miles.
And finally, I've crossed a line. A line I didn't know I was going to cross so soon. With the gift certificates from having raised money for Leukemia and Lymphoma ($75 to Sports Basement) I went shopping on Saturday. I bought a new pair of shorts, a box (Yes, a BOX of Gu), a Fuel Belt, and canister of Gu2O. I felt so hardcore. The cashier asked if I was running the Nike Women's Marathon the next day, I looked that hardcore. In addition to injuries in the race, my case of dehydration at the end, and the general dehydration after several runs has convinced me it's time to start running with some fluids. I should even speed up times, because muscle fatige won't set in so intensely. I'll look like a dork with my holster on my hips, but I will be a lean mean running machine.

That's all for now.

Week's Stats:

Total Miles: 18
Total Time: 164
Average/mile: 9.14 minutes
Overall Impression: I'm Doing Great And Hope To Hold On To The Euphoria During Those 40 Mile Weeks! (IDGAHTHOTTEDT40MW!)

Week in Review

I feel like I have a LOT to post, but the time is short today, so I PROMISE to make up for it tonight with something more substantial. First off, I know I tell him this in comments all the time, but Don's twenty miles has quickly become a glimmering beacon of hope for me on the horizon. Or to put it in one, simple word: My injury recovery won't let me run that far in a week for probably a month I figure.

BUT, as much direness one sees when researching ITBS on the internet, I can't help but come away with some positives (Hating is Julie's domain, after all;)):
1) Most of these people have problems walking. I can walk. Going down stairs is something else entirely, but I can walk.
2) Training starts (and ends) for them with single 500 meter sprints.
3) I was able to run 4.5 miles on Saturday before it started tightening and I stopped as a precautionary measure.

So, I'm still pulling back on the miles, but still trying to keep running. The last thing I want to do is make it chronic. BUT, (and I'm sure Don hears me here) going from a marathon to virtually zero miles is enough to drive anyone insane. I think I have an inkling of what post-partum depression is all about.

Having said all of that, the run on Saturday was absolutely beautiful. We found a tree and park-lined canal about a mile from us that leads out to the Green Belt near the stadium. We ran along it for a few miles, just soaking in the colors, the ducks, and quite a few rather big houses. I didn't any problems with the knee until we hit about four miles, and decided to call it off at 4.5.
I was just jogging ten minute miles, but I think running slower might contribute to the problems. According to a lot of the resources I found, ITBS flairs up due to shortening your stride, because it affects the knee more at impact and the relative position of the band along the side of the knee causes greater irritation.

Which means my worries were posibly well-founded that my late race leg problems were indeed probably brought on by my deciding to keep a pace a full 30 seconds per mile slower than what I was accustomed to running. Well, that and the fact I was STARVING by the noon start.

I can't wait to write my "Run as I Say, Not as I Did" marathon book.

It's all a moot point really. I just want to be healthy again! Wow, this post has gotten longer than I anticipated, and I have to install lighting in the bomb shelter, um I mean cellar. So I better go. I hereby rescind my promise to write more tonight, but will probably post after my next Blitzrun.

Kicking Ass and Taking My Own Name!

Hey all,
Just an update thus far this week. It seems a bit less work this week, the schedule calls for 18 miles instead of last weeks 21. Which, I'm happy for. The gams were a bit tired after last weeks 4 runs and umpteen flights of stairs moving boxes on Friday. I was worked like some two bit whore with too high heels.
so far this week it was a four mile run at home. Up and over Twin Peaks again. What a beautiful run. I can't tell you how much I love the challenge of it and the view from the top. It's a great one. Tuesday was a great day all around. I decided I was going to skip my only class, sent him an e-mail claiming I was ill and took the day off. Spent the day working at a coffee shop and then got a massage. (Yes working at a coffee shop is a day off for me.)
Yesterday called for a 6 mile run. I decided to give the Ohlone greenway another try and it worked well. I mapped out 3 miles and headed out the door. I ran a 25 minute 3 mile split, but then slowed it up on the way back to end with a 54 minute round trip. That's 9 minute miles for 6 miles. I'm in better shape than I thought. I was sure it would be a 10 minute mile. I'm still having some shin issues, but those should resolve when I have them removed.
Cross your fingers and root for me as I attempt 8 miles tomorrow. I'll let you know how I did.

Blitzpost

I realize I keep writing these short posts with little substance, but that sums up the running right now. Today was three good miles. It was a little bit faster than two days ago. I'm stretching like mad, and the IT Band is a LOT better.

This weekend there will be a reverse in strategy, and instead of running without a watch, I'm going to set a longer time-based goal and plod about however I see fit. We're shooting for 60 minutes, but we'll settle for 45. I'm sure something fun will happen, and if not, I'll make something up.

As to now, however: The Cologne nightlife, she beckons.

Achilles Kosmos

I'm putting a new link in for a column I've been reading about running/atheltic endeavors. The only caveat is that it is written in German, so some of you out there may not be able to read it. Check it out though, if you can.

2 Encouraging Miles!

Today's Run:

Distance: 2 Miles
Time: This is a week without watches (W.W.W.)
Overall Impression: Great! Recovery is Coming Along (G!RICA)

Tonight's run was a good one. I left my watch at home intentionally, deciding instead to focus on forcing myself to slow down. I figure I ran ten minute miles, but don't really care. I found a series of stretches for the IT band that, incidentally, I used to do in both football and gymnastics all the time anyway. Apparently coach wasn't a drunk idiot after all.
I think the problems that erupted on Friday were directly attributable to the fact that I was trying to break a land speed record only five days after the marathon, when land speed records clearly should be reserved for the sixth day. Then again, the pain didn't really kick in until after two miles anyway, so perhaps it has to do with distance as well. I'll tell you what...
I'm going to run 3 miles tomorrow with the same "no watch" policy, and let you know how it goes. If my leg breaks in two, then I owe you a Coke.

Look Over Your Shoulders, Ladies!

Well Mary and Nancy, don't count me out yet! I'm approaching fast behind you (ok, well probably not that fast, but I'm getting there. Not quite as fast as the crazy hill runner - by the way, Don, you are now officially a "ridge runner." Te he he.

I know, today's little five miles pales in comparison to the glow of Don's amazing week (which I am totally jealous of! - don't forget to head back out to Nimitz!!!!), but as I said, I am getting there. I guess I am most excited, because I had planned to only run 4 miles. I have been trying to increase my distance by a 1/2 mile every run. (I don't buy into those tried and true running plans that work successfully for 99.99% of the population. Nope, I like some good ol' fashion "ignant" running.) Around 1.5 mi I decided to see if I could make it to 4. Then at around 3 mi. I decided I would see if I couldn't do 4.5, and when I got to 4.5 I thought to myself, what is another 0.5, really? Of course, the pace wasn't anything to brag about, and had I run faster I probably wouldn't have managed the 5, but all in good time, my Pretties.

I think it's back in my blood! I could not, for the life of me, fall asleep last night. I am either suffering from "Restless Leg Syndrome" (Don, you have to have seen those commercials! Can you believe it is a really an illness???) or my legs were pissed at me for not having run yesterday. Well, I am sure my legs and I will rest well tonight. I hope to be logging more weekly miles in the near future.

Distance: 5mi
Time: 48.45
Overall Impression: Felt So Good I Wanna Do It Again! (FSGIWDIA!)

Run to Me!

It's Sunday afternoon and I should be working on a paper that will be presented at a conference in two weeks. Instead, I'm basing a little in the glow of a 21 mile week. Overall it went well.

Do y'all have regular "pain" or discomfort after a long run? I can't remember what normal feels like anymore. I did 7 miles today and it was a beautiful, but there was a point where both knees were hurthing, and so was my ankle but that's another story.

The week:
Tuesday four miles. Treadmill, uneventful.
Thursday six miles: Stretched and headed out the door and up into the Berkeley Fire Trails. It was my first time on the trails since the Jason Whitt incident and I have to say, they are 2000 times more pleasant when they aren't covered in crazy ass sloppy muddy mess. It was quite gorgeous up there. The goal of the run was 60 minutes. So I headed up hill and assumed downhill time would be faster than uphill. 35 minutes up hill took me about 1/2 mile past the beast hill where you have no choice but to walk (although I did struggle half way up it before giving up). I turned around and headed back comfortable in the knowledge that I'm starting to enjoy running hills. I can't explain it, but it's true.
Saturday four miles: In Golden Gate Park with the gay boys, ran with a gay minister who works at USF. His name was Donell. It was all a bit weird, but a beautiful run. I love the park.
Sunday seven miles: Left the house, walked for five minutes away from the house, then turned around and ran toward the house, past it and right on down into Glen Park. 2 miles away from home, the center of Glen Park is roughly 150 above sea level. Then it's uphill, and I mean uphill. Running to the top of Twin Peaks, takes 2 1/2 miles and is an 800 foot change in elevation. It's a great run. Challenging to say the least, but what a thrill to reach the top. Ran a flat mile at the top just to fill out the 7 and then headed home. It was gorgeous. That run always makes me appreciate living here in San Francisco. The challenging terrain and the view of downtown from the top just can't compare to anywhere else.

Overall:

Miles: 21
Time: 3:16:45
Overall Impression: Now I Know What It Means To Be An Addict! (NIKWIMTBAA)

reverse taper

It's amazing how many ways I've underestimated the marathon. There's always some little thing I either play down, or disregard. I don't mean to be disrespectful to the magical 26.2, but sometimes I just forget to give the whole undertaking its complete props. And every time I do, it comes back to bite me. Pretty hard.

I thought that having finished it, I would be in the clear from whatever problems could ever arise. (It's cute how I'm naive, isn't it?) I knew already that it basically takes as long to recover from a marathon as it does to taper for one. At least. I read a fantastic quote about recovery that actually said "You should never begin training for your next marathon until you've forgotten about your last one." That's probably true for fifty seven reasons. Anyway, it apparently true what they say about recovery. And that stuff about having a broken-down body? That's true too!

Of course, I found this out for myself the fun way. Well, I learned through the haze of the cold searing pain that acccompanied my early return to running. In fact, I wrote a song about it. Wanna hear about it? Here it goes...

I ran two miles on Wednesday without any problems. It was nice to get out. My legs felt tired, but I was going very easy on them. It was encouraging, and I was toying with the ideas of a 10k/half marathon on Saturday. It went so well, that after a day off, I scheduled a four miler. I got up, went out, and absolutely flew off the blocks. I was running an absolutely killer pace and everything felt great until I hit two miles, when the outside of my knee started to hurt like there were fifty daggers stabbed into it. I stopped and stretched, and was able to go again, albeit at a slower pacce. After another mile, I had to stop and stretch again, but not only was it hurting, it began tightening up. This meant that my pace was affected and had I not adjusted my right leg, then I would have begun running in small concentric circles. I would probably still be there today. I managed to get home with a short shuffle/jog pace, probably akin to Don's early Quasimoto school of gimpery. I then went upstairs and freaked out a bit, before calming down after my leg stoped bothering me.
The thing is, I knew it wasn't my knee, because the pain is actually on the outside of it, and a little lower. So I began doing some research (keep in mind, I have a special place in my heart for the Web MD hypochondriacs out there. By saying that, of course I mean I love to make fun of them. It always fascinates me how a hangnail turns terminal.) It didn't take long for me to ascertain that I have a problem with my Iliotibial Band. Basically, I've strained it good. This happens to roughly 300 percent of all runners at one point or another. The best news is that there are stretches for it, and once Don realigns my hips, then I shouldn't have any problems. I was hoping on running a 10K today, but decided to take it off and rest. I'm going to go out and do 3 miles really slow tomorrow, and see how these newfangled stretches work. There will be running, but there will be no heady sprints through the German heath. Not for a couple of weeks anyway. The reverse taper is officially underway!

Warning: I am about to get introspective on your asses!

Motivated by the ever growing weight of reponsibility as a member of a blog community (or perhaps the ever growing weight of my ass and thighs) I hit the treadmill today. If my running log does not deceive me, the last time I ran was September 9th. What the hell have I been thinking? (This is where I get introspective - fast forward if need be.)

How does a person go from running 20 miles a week to sitting on the couch cramming fistfuls of potato chips into his/her mouth for more than a month? This is my standard M.O.:

- work out hard
- get into good shape
- trick myself into thinking that it will last, regardless of what I eat or how much/little I exercise
- find myself starting from square 1

I have several theories. The first is that I am a glutten for punishment. I am a masochist, and I like to think I am a martyr. I like to complain about how sore I am. How hard it is. Boo hoo hoo. Poor Julie. I totally get that about myself (and yes, I have known this about myself for quite some time!) The second theory, I am just a lazy s.o.b. I get burnt out on running and can't keep it up. The third theory, I like to use stress about writing my dissertation and applying for jobs as an excuse (see: theory one), when in fact I manage to find plenty of time to watch crappy tv with potato chips in hand. I am sure there are plenty of other theories. The point is, this happens to me at least once or twice a year. Geez!

OK, you can start reading again. Here are the stats about my run:

Time: 29:40
Distance: 3 mi
Overall Impression: Really Stupidly Hard and I Want To Kick Myself In The Ass For Not Having Kept Running (RSHAIWTKMITAFNHKR)

The good news is that I am gonna do it tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that! By the way, while sitting here I am started to really feel the positive effects of the run. I am in a better mood than I have been for weeks. If my body had a Mentos commercial, it would be the "Endorphine Maker."

Learning to Walk!

The fascinating thing about physical therapy is that you realize how terribly most people move their way through the world. Think about it. Before my injury I considered myself a healthy, active, even athletic individual. Now I understand that I couldn’t even walk right.
After this week’s PT I’ve been given the instructions basically to do some situps and to walk like Pygmalion everywhere I go. My hips are so rotated the wrong way I’m afraid no one will say I have a nice butt when I get it where it’s supposed to be. Seriously, my hips were rotated forward about 10 degrees. What does this all mean?
1) The right knee no longer hurts. Everything is grand. I haven’t had any pain in quite some time. I continue to ice it as I think I am now addicted.
2) The left knee hurts, but is getting better. Did you know rotating a hip that is out of alignment could alleviate knee pain? Julie Andrews and I would make a great pair walking through campus. I almost feel as if I should put books on my head.
3) I’m still taking Aleve, just in case. You never know. If I spend a week without pain I’ll stop the Aleve, but in the meantime I’m not taking a major dose so I’m not concerned.
4) Running is becoming fun again. And on to the stories of the runs.

In week one of Marathon training there was a lot going on. The schedule called for 4 miles on Tuesday, One hour on Thursday, 4 miles on Saturday and 6 miles on Sunday. As my PT instructed me to build up miles slowly, I decided to cancel the 6 miles on Sunday, since I would be the wedding of a chef and a national wine rep. on Saturday night. In retrospect it was a very good idea. I think Dayton didn’t get his beer on Sunday because I had drunk them all at the bar before the reception. Oh wait, there were drinks with the groom before the wedding, too. Which reminds me! Never go to a catholic wedding with even the slightest buzz. No one needs you giggling in the back pew when the priest mentions “Lamb of God” for the 40th time.
Oh, the runs. TUESDAY: 4 miles. On the treadmill, RSF, no big deal. Enjoyable, although I’m starting to think Treadmills aren’t so good for you. I have more knee problems on one than off. THURSDAY: One hour. Started on the treadmill, again more leg and knee pain. After 20 minutes I packed it in and was headed to the shower. I couldn’t take the defeat yet again. Then, as I threw my sweat towel in the bin and headed toward the shower, something snapped. I just said to myself, using my inside voice, “Fuck You, Jason Whitt! You’re not going to beat me! I’m running hills.” So I did. I threw the towel in the bin and headed out the front door of the RSF, turned the stopwatch back on and headed up hill. When I reached the halfway point, somewhere up behind one of the dorms and near a parking lot for the Livermore Lab, I turned around and enjoyed a run back down the hill past the stadium, past the I-house, and right on back to the RSF. It was AWESOME! It felt so good to just be able to do it. When I got home my knee hurt, but no more than it had hurt during the months of running the Hayes St. Haters were doing. It was the level of pain I once considered normal. A level that I’m now hoping to eliminate completely. We’ll see!
SATURDAY’s run was not all that spectacular. Up over Twin Peaks, with a couple laps thrown in. It’s a nice 4-mile run with beautiful views, little traffic and lots of hills to create a challenge. My pace was just off 10 minutes, which didn’t make me too happy, but I’m trying to remember that I have some fitness to regain.
I’ve run again this week already. 4 miles on Tuesday again. Same comments about Treadmills apply. Really, I need to get some routes mapped through Berkeley for those days when I’m here for runs. My run was at least on the Treadmill that faces the Squash court. That gave me something to watch.
So before I sign off, just one more HUGE CONGRATULATIONS for Dayton finishing his first Marathon. And a challenge to both Julie and Dayton that the Boston Marathon is coming up in just 18 months!!! We’ve got 16 months in which to qualify!!

Running Summary:

Total Miles: 14
Total Time: 2:13:42
Overall Impression: We’re Back On Track, Folks! Drunk Runners Can’t Be Stopped! (WBONTF!DRCBS!)

Die Tone?

Just noticing that Dayton's bib for the race included his first name. How personal. Couldn't help but giggle at the thoughts of all those Germans, "Was ist das für einen Namen? Die-tone?"

Congrats again, big Guy!!

The Morning After the Race Before

I can honestly say that I did not get to drink a single beer last night. How disappointing is that? What kind of drunk runner am I? Where is that Kenyan in me? Tonight, I promise, there will be a showing of how we roll.
Why didn't I drink a beer? I was semi-comatose on our couch until nine. I couldn't really eat, so I couldn't really drink. I had the chills, and I was under a blanket. I think the word for it all is- glamorous.
Of course, when I went to bed, I could barely sleep, and at one point woke up completely drenched in sweat, to the point that my pillow and pretty much everything around me was soaking wet. Good times!

But on to the marathon.

We woke up relatively early because of the Japanese Grand Prix, and there are precious few opportunities for us Ferrari fans to cheer on Schumi anymore. We took it as a foreboding sign for the day when his engine blew up while he was comfortably leading with sixteen laps left, effectively ruining his chances for his last championship. Well I took it as a sign, Tessa was too distraught to take it as anything but the harsh, cruel bitch goddess that is reality.
Here are a couple of pics of me before the race. I particularly like the one of me looking over the balcony, peering into an uncertain future, but always pondering my position as the vanguard of so much silliness:


We got to the race a little early. After it occcured to us the night before that the free tickets for public transportaiton that we received would be useless since all of the trams and buses were shut down for the day, we hit upon the bright idea to take the train across town, which got us there with ample time. Which was good, because it took me forty five minutes to cross the starting line. God forbid we sat around for less than two hours :) I was in the very last starting group, and they were VERY diligent about keeping everything spaced out.
The course was beautiful, and the weather was unnaturally amazing. If anything, it was a little too warm for a noon start. I heard a lot of talk that it was 20 degrees in the sun, and there wasn't much shade. I think this contributed to some of my problmes later on in the race.
I intentionally took a slow pace, which might have caused more problems, because I think the shortened stride was impacting my calves harder, whicch really caused problems around mile 17. I sorted them out with some stretching, and got through the 20 mile barrier with relatively little problems. Then, around mile 22, I'm pretty sure I died six times and through some karmic mishap, was reincarnated into the very body I was trying to get out of. My calves were seizing up, and everytime I would stop to stretch them, the stretching would cause my knees to lock up, which made starting up again agony. I finally sat down on a small wall and just massaged the hell out of my legs. The next mile or so was really more of the same. I would stumble, lie down, and massage. I walked a lot, but it hurt more than running. I really wanted to quit. I was getting towards the end of my rope, when I finally found a stride that was tolerable. And I mean barely tolerable. It was the only way I could make my legs move forward without screaming. Which doesn't mean they didn't hurt like hell. They did.
But I ran the last 4.5 K without even pausing. I don't know anything about the crowd, I barely saw the cathedral. I could only look at the ground and block everything else out. Even when I crossed the last corner, I couldn't look at the finish line, because I was scared to get out of what little rhythm I established. Finally, when I got there, I'm pretty sure I started sobbing, but I had to catch myself, because the hysterics were getting in the way of my breathing. It wasn't from hurting, it was from relief, and more than a little pride.
I am, in many ways, more proud that I finished a bad race, than if I had cruised through it easily. A big part of training for, and doing this, was to prove to myself that I had the mental toughness to overcome obstacles, and the resolve to not give up. Maybe if conditions were better, maybe if I was better hydrated, I could have gotten closer to my first goal. Who cares. I knew when the wheels were falling off that time didn't matter anymore, and that's why I turned off my watch. But there were a lot of moments when things weren't going my way, and I finished anyway.
I don't think I could have done it without Tessa there though! She was amazing.
I can think of at least two imes when, seeing her unexpectedly, my energy levels soared and the subsequent few kilometers flew by. She was there to tell me it was okay if I walked the rest of the way, and she was the finish line waiting for me. This was team effort, and she rocked in so many ways. She actually had to show me on a map how she managed to get to so many different positions on the track in such short times, because I was growing increasingly suspicious of either witchcraft or quantum teleportation. Turns out, she's just smart about getting around town.
Anyway, there are too many impresions and litle things to tell right now, so I'll just post some more pics. Since it was in Cologne, you can bet there were some crazy people dressing up, and general fun had by all:

Marathon is Over. Reports Tomorrow.

I finished. It was slow and painful, but I remained within my third goal, barely (4:54:something_. I just had to check the time online, because I turned my watch off with 5k left in order to bolster morale.
I'll write more tomorrow, but right now I'm just trying to hydrate and get over the chills. Pizza should do the trick.
I couldn't have done this without your support, your posts, and your phone calls. My fellow drunk runners/hayes street haters have seen me get teary eyed about our friendship before, and I'm getting a little misty now, so I'm going to just leave this here until tomorrow and sit back and enjoy the view from the other side.

Training is Over. Marathon Tomorrow

The Beginners Marathon Training Plan, as offered by RunnersWorld.com, an infallible source of running goodness, requires the runner to run 347 miles from Day 1 to Day Five Billion. I ran almost all of them, excluding a very early recovery week, which I had to eliminate because of time constraints, and two runs which were dropped during the taper, because of scheduling mishaps. According to my running log, I ran just over 329 miles in the past fifteen-odd weeks.

Of course, the training really began back in January, when I bought a new pair of shoes and began running two-a-days on Wildcat Canyon Road until I realized short socks contibuted directly to profuse heel bleeding. Once that healed, I met Don, Julie, Katra, and Emily for an absolutely draining 4.5 mile run on the Ohlone. I think, if I remember correctly, I was hungover. I think also, now that I reflect back on that time, that I owe Don a couple of more breakfasts at Fat Apples. Anyway, as he has already mentioned, running through Spring really gave me a foundation for this training that was only partially negated by the extreme situations of the World Cup...

Anyway, as my postings go, this one isn't that much different, at least on a meta-level. I'm lying in bed, I just woke up, and my legs are...ok. They aren't that tired actually. I've found that the last few taper runs have really all been about keeping and finding my pace. Since my feet have been somewhat rejuvenated through rest, they just want to fly ahead of me. My job is to slow them down. There is a dangerous giddiness to that feeling, which is redoubled by its long absence through sheer exhaustion. I know tomorrow I won't feel this good. I know tomorrow I will probably cry. But I like to pretend that the fresh legs will keep me going. Which brings me to my three levels of goals, which are only loosely oriented around time:

Great Result: Finish without walking (4:15)
Totally Cool and I'm Happy With it Result: Walk some, but keep a mostly even pace. (4:30)
There is No Bad Result. I'm Here to Finish if I Walk the Whole Thing: (4:45-5:00)

Anyway, I went to the expo on Thursday to get my gear. I love marathon expos. They really try and foster a sense of community in the participants by asking all of us to blow equally huge wads of money on equally flimsy clothing. ("But it wicks! It wicks the sweat away!", you say.) Did that sound sarcastic? It was sincere. I think I identify through brand culture more now as a runner than when I was in junior high trying to get my mom to buy me Guess jeans. Which never worked.
Unfortunately, they ran out of Früh Kölsch jerseys, so I won't be receiving my free mini-keg of beer at the finish. That's okay though, I have much bigger plans than that, and 5 litres of beer won't even come close to cutting it.
It was actually not that easy to find the expo. The Cologne civic center is slightly larger than most German towns, so we ended up walking most of the way back home just to get around three of the buildings. Once inside though, we found everything pretty easily, especially after Tessa redirected me away from the Smart Car raffle and towards the things I actually needed to pick up. Like my number. (Speaking of which, I will go into detail later about all of the things included in the goodie bag. But Tessa was obviously most pleased with the single-serving box of Wheatabix. This somehow beat out a Sendung mit der Maus rainslicker. I'm only writing this because Tessa inadvertently called them "Wheatabricks", which is a far more apt name for the product than I could ever personally conjure up.)
Anyway, we got home and I've been doing my best not to leave the apartment since. I've labelled the six flights of stairs a health risk, and have decided to stay home and eat healthy food (there are much needed carbs and magnesium in banoffi pie.), while visualizing everything. I have the map downstairs in the living rom, and am trying to figure out the places most likely to cause the most pain. I also have printed out pace bands for my wrists that tell me my timed splits in that indecipherable mess of measurement, the kilometer.
I'll post my race number here later, so you can follow along or check up on my results if I'm too drunk or too dead to post by Monday. I think thats it for now.
Enjoy yourselves bitches. It's a celebration.

More Tapering

I know I have been bad about the posts (none for a week), but it is all part of the zen-like state I have reached in the last week before the marathon. I figure if I acheive something as easy as higher consciousness, then a marathon should be no problem. Running is going well. The times are levelling, and the legs are freshening. Nothing today, five tomorrow, and then two on Friday.
The posts will pick up either tomorrow or Friday, when I go to pick up my gear. Let's all think positive thoughts!

And they're Off!

I ran with the gay boys for the first time in a long time this weekend. It was awesome. I ended up running most of the way by myself, but it was nice to know that at least when someone passed me they were on my team. :-)
It turned out to be a great run. The first couple miles were a little fast, and I felt like I was struggling to finish the last half of the four mile run, but when I crossed the finish line I had actually completed the whole ordeal in 34:36 giving me an 8.67 minute mile. Not bad. I was very happy!!!!

Training for the next marathon begins tomorrow! I have found a perfect marathon and will begin the 16 week training program tomorrow. The race is the San Diego marathon on January 21. Mark your calendars. Steve and I will go down to visit a friend of our's there and I'll simply run the race with them there to cheer me on. I'm pretty excited about the Ultimate Marathon Plan, it really seems doable, especially since I'll be training for this one all by myself. I'll of course, keep all posted as to my goings.

I need some advice though. I've been contemplating the enormity of all of this training and racing, and we are going to be doing even more if we are going to run the Boston. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a nicer experience to raise money for the bost marathon by taking donations for each marathon run. I haven't fully worked out details in my head, but here's a rough idea: People pledge 1 cent (or more) for each mile run during training and races until the Boston marathon. This means if we accomplish the 2008 marathon we are looking at about a $4.00 donation for each marathon. I figure to qualify it is going to take 3 marathons next year. Include the Boston marathon and each person donates $16. Whaddaya think? I'd probably want to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association or something like it. It just seemed so much more meaningful to run the Bay to Breakers raising money for LLS. I'd love to hear what ya'll think about this half baked plan.