November 1 I was involved in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. I fractured my left elbow, chipped the bone in my right wrist and received a large 3rd degree burn on my left knee. As a result, I was unable to run for a while, as well as type. Three weeks later, I finally braved the treadmill. While I was pleased with the run overall, the jarring on my elbow was quite painful. I did not run for a while, and while I would not admit it out loud, I questioned whether running the marathon was still something I would be able to do. Amanda and I set several times to run, but in the mornings I would be too sore, or too cold, or too tired to run. In truth, while all of these were the case, at least at times, the real problem was that I was depressed and scared of running. I found excuse after excuse, and my main one was that it would hurt my arm. Yet, I was willing and able to do other things that hurt my arm, such as boxing on the X-Box Kinect, deer hunting, and replacing the radiator on my car. I needed to decide whether I was going to let the accident knock me out of the race.
Yesterday I looked at the weather and saw that it was going to be 27 degrees in the morning, too cold to run. But as I looked at my calendar, I realized that I had free time in the middle of the day. With finals starting this week, my Club is not open, which makes the middle of the day more flexible, one of the advantages of working for the Boys & Girls Club. I contacted Amanda, and she was free in the afternoon, as well. So we decided to run together. Let me say that Amanda ran a 5K yesterday and finished in 26 minutes. She was very motivated as a result, and that helped motivate me. We met up at the bridge, stretched in the cold, and began our run. I was very winded very early on, and found myself having to stop after the first mile. I was struggling to catch my breath and wishing I had my inhaler with me. After a very brief walk, Amanda informed me that I was rested enough and that it was time to run. The second mile was worse then the first, and I wondered how she would react when I told her that we would be walking the last 2.5. I tried to tell myself that I was actually doing well after not running for 6 weeks, but I was not very convincing.
We stopped at the 2 mile marker, stretched a little, got some water, then started a walk up and across the bridge. We then started running again. I was feeling discomfort in my arm, but breathing was easier, and my legs were not at all fatigued. About a mile into that leg of the run I said that I wanted to walk, but I really did not feel that I had to. Amanda said that was good, because we were not walking. Once we were into the last stretch I actually felt pretty good! We finished up 4.5 miles in about 50 minutes, meaning that while our distance was not where we had been, our pace was a little quicker. I felt good about the run, and was convinced that I would do the marathon, after all. I may end up walking more then I wanted to, and it may take me an eternity to complete, but I am going to compete, I am going to cross the finish line, and I am going to get that medal!
Thanks for all the words of encouragement since the accident. Thanks, too, for all the words of encouragement I know I will continue to hear. And during this holiday season, take time to give thanks to God for all you have in this life, and all that you will have in the life to come!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Interval Running
Several people have suggested I participate in interval runs as a way to increase my speed. Interval runs, in case you don't know, are fast runs interlaced with slower runs. For example, my regular pace is about 12.5 minute miles, but I want to be running at 8 minute miles. So, I would do a short warm-up pace at a slow pace, then do a tenth mile at my 12.5 minute mile, followed by a mile at my target speed, then back to a tenth at current pace, followed by a mile at targeted speed, and so forth. Today I decided to do my first interval run on the treadmill Maline's mom just gave us. This gave me control on what I was doing and how I was doing it, so I knew that I would not be likely to hurt myself in the process. I started out at a slow walk, then moved to my tenth mile at five miles per hour (12 minute mile). I then went to 7 miles per hour for the next mile (8.57 minute miles). This was the fastest I thought I would be able to go for a mile, so it seemed like a good starting point. After all, 3 weeks ago, I was very pleased with 8:55 miles on the track, so 8:57 seemed like it should be a good challenge.
At the end of the mile I resumed my slower pace for a tenth mile. I realized that 7 miles per hour seemed too easy, so I did my next mile at 8 miles per hour (7.5 minute miles). Half way through I realized this still seemed too easy, so I raised the incline on the treadmill to get more of a challenge. At the end of a mile I returned to 5 mph for a tenth of a mile, then decided to jump to 9 mpg (6.7 minute miles). I set the incline at 2.5 and ran. Surprisingly, I maintained the pace for the entire mile, making me feel extremely proud of my self. At the end of the mile, I slowed to 5 mph, then 4 mph, before coming to a stop. In all, I did 3.5 miles in 30 minutes, thus maintaining an average of 7 mph over the length of the run. In other words, I sustained an average speed that was the same as what I had been forcing myself to do for only a mile. I felt I could keep going, but decided that I had beaten my goal and it was best not to risk hurting myself by pushing too hard.
When I finished the interval trainings, I started working on core strengthening. Six Hundred crunches and other variants of abdominal exercises had me feeling the best I've felt in some time. In fact, I cannot remember ever feeling this healthy, motivated, and in shape! Just a few weeks ago I was going to be content to finish the marathon under the 7 hour maximum time alloted. Now my goal is to be under 4 hours, and perhaps even under 3.5. When I started this journey, I never imagined that I would set a goal like that. But now it seems attainable, and like I would be cheating myself not to run the marathon in less then four hours!
Daily I find more people who are following my writings and offering words of encouragement. I am inspired by the people that tell me I am their inspiration. I am ready for that medal which says that I completed the 26.2 miles, as well as the 26.2 sticker to put on the back of my car!
Finally, I have to thank my wife, Maline, and my son, Josh, for all their support. They get up in the mornings a few times per week after I've already left for a run. I am not there to help them in the mornings, and they never complain or get upset. I did not consider how much time this training was going to take away from them. I am grateful for their continued support!
Until next time, remember: Run, Live, Sleep, Repeat!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Fifteen Miles Yesterday!
Well, we hit another milestone yesterday. Amanda and I started at Lamar and North Loop, ran down to the lake, across to IH35, back to the Pfluger Pedestrian bridge, then up Guadalupe and back to our starting point. Total distance was right at 15 miles. Last week I struggled to do 10, but I felt great after the run yesterday. Still today I feel good, a little stiff, but good.
The goal at this time is not speed, but total workout time. We will do 5 tomorrow morning, ten Friday and repeat the 15, 5, 10 next week. Then we will move to a 17 mile run for 2 weeks, and hopefully hit 20 miles by mid-November. That is when the serious training will begin. Once we hit 20, our goal is to spend less time walking and to increase the speed of our runs. My goal is to get to 9 minute miles, which I can do now, but cannot sustain, and to sustain that time throughout the race.
With this new milestone, I am feeling more and more ready for the race. Unfortunately, the time running takes away from blogging time, which means that my writings seem to be fewer and farther between. However, I will try to make the time to keep posting where I am, as I really appreciate all your support in my training.
Take time to check out my other blog, http://revmjq.blogspot.com/2010/10/musings-of-methodist-minister-luke-189.html, as well as the blogs of my running partner, http://amandastovall.blogspot.com/ and http://www.dishevelledstars.com/.
The goal at this time is not speed, but total workout time. We will do 5 tomorrow morning, ten Friday and repeat the 15, 5, 10 next week. Then we will move to a 17 mile run for 2 weeks, and hopefully hit 20 miles by mid-November. That is when the serious training will begin. Once we hit 20, our goal is to spend less time walking and to increase the speed of our runs. My goal is to get to 9 minute miles, which I can do now, but cannot sustain, and to sustain that time throughout the race.
With this new milestone, I am feeling more and more ready for the race. Unfortunately, the time running takes away from blogging time, which means that my writings seem to be fewer and farther between. However, I will try to make the time to keep posting where I am, as I really appreciate all your support in my training.
Take time to check out my other blog, http://revmjq.blogspot.com/2010/10/musings-of-methodist-minister-luke-189.html, as well as the blogs of my running partner, http://amandastovall.blogspot.com/ and http://www.dishevelledstars.com/.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Half Marathon
Milestones are nice, aren't they? Amanda and I set a goal to run 13 miles yesterday. That is a half marathon, and a third longer then we have been running. We decided that we needed to spend 2 weeks at that distance, even if we walked the last 3 miles, just to get to the next stage. We met up a little late on a humid and hot morning and took off on our run. First, we did a 3 mile loop, realizing that if we did ten, then tried to tack on the 3, we may not succeed. As I said, it was hot and humid, and a difficult run, but we did the first loop and began the real run. Each bridge over Town Lake was a temptation to cut the run short, but our will power was stronger then temptation, and we raged on. Well, moved on is more like it. But we moved. As we passed Congress Avenue, we discussed walking the hill up IH35. But the closer we got to the interstate, the more I felt we should run, so I encouraged Amanda, who called me a liar, grumbled, argued, then finally decided, as I knew all along, that I was right. So, up we ran. About 2/3 of the way up, however, I was running out of steam. I was not sure that I would be able to make the sharp assent, and I began to complain. Amanda sternly rebuked me, saying that running up the hill was my idea, that I forced her into it, and that I had no choice but to keep going. I called her a liar, grumbled, argued, then finally decided, as she knew all along, that she was right, so I ran up the hill.
We celebrated the feat with a toast of Clif Bar Gel Shots, trying to restore our energy through the delicious, thick snack of glucose and caffeine. (Note to self, a shot of scotch is a whole lot tastier then a Clif Bar Gel Shot!) We then started running again.
The humidity was really getting to me. I was drenched with sweat. I could feel it pouring off every inch of my body and my clothing. I felt sluggish and uncomfortable, and longed for the water station on the other side of the interstate. I was starting to feel dehydrated and wondered if I would be able to make the whole run. We ran to the dam, walked across, walked/ran on and finally crossed the interstate. I could taste the water as I ran, and knew that its life-giving potion would allow me to live. But as we approached, we were not met by water. Not even the bench the water normally sits on was there. It was a tease, and we were forced to go on, thirsty, hot, and not very happy. We decided that the next water fountain would be our next stop, so we kept on, looking for the next place to hydrate. After an eternity of about 3 minutes, the water fountain came in to view. New life and energy filled my soul as I surged on. I hit the button to the magic machine, only to find that it did not work. Pushing harder did not help, nor did yelling at the lifeless hunk of metal. With a sad heart, I went on, still thirsty, still needing to replenish fluids.
The next water fountain worked, but only a little, with the water just dribbling over the spout. As parched as I was, I did not feel that the little water I would get from this fountain would help. So I pressed on, Amanda encouraging me. I considered plunging myself into the lake, but thought better of it, so I continued with a combination of runs and walks. I actually ended up walking about the last mile and a half. Amanda finished stronger then me, but we both found it to be a bit of a challenge. I quickly drank my Gatorade and water, replenishing fluids, and wondering what we were thinking. I decided that I really did not need to run a marathon, after all, and decided it was time to give up on my training.
We will be running a half marathon again next week. We will have camel backs to keep us hydrated, and we will leave earlier in the day. I am proud to say that yesterday I ran a half marathon. I know that soon I will be able to say that I completed a full marathon, and that while I might complain during some of my runs, I will prevail!
And I have to say that I could not be doing this without support from my readers and followers. The comments I get help me to press on. It is certainly a wonderful thing to be surrounded by so many supporters.
Until next time, keep on keeping on!
We celebrated the feat with a toast of Clif Bar Gel Shots, trying to restore our energy through the delicious, thick snack of glucose and caffeine. (Note to self, a shot of scotch is a whole lot tastier then a Clif Bar Gel Shot!) We then started running again.
The humidity was really getting to me. I was drenched with sweat. I could feel it pouring off every inch of my body and my clothing. I felt sluggish and uncomfortable, and longed for the water station on the other side of the interstate. I was starting to feel dehydrated and wondered if I would be able to make the whole run. We ran to the dam, walked across, walked/ran on and finally crossed the interstate. I could taste the water as I ran, and knew that its life-giving potion would allow me to live. But as we approached, we were not met by water. Not even the bench the water normally sits on was there. It was a tease, and we were forced to go on, thirsty, hot, and not very happy. We decided that the next water fountain would be our next stop, so we kept on, looking for the next place to hydrate. After an eternity of about 3 minutes, the water fountain came in to view. New life and energy filled my soul as I surged on. I hit the button to the magic machine, only to find that it did not work. Pushing harder did not help, nor did yelling at the lifeless hunk of metal. With a sad heart, I went on, still thirsty, still needing to replenish fluids.
The next water fountain worked, but only a little, with the water just dribbling over the spout. As parched as I was, I did not feel that the little water I would get from this fountain would help. So I pressed on, Amanda encouraging me. I considered plunging myself into the lake, but thought better of it, so I continued with a combination of runs and walks. I actually ended up walking about the last mile and a half. Amanda finished stronger then me, but we both found it to be a bit of a challenge. I quickly drank my Gatorade and water, replenishing fluids, and wondering what we were thinking. I decided that I really did not need to run a marathon, after all, and decided it was time to give up on my training.
We will be running a half marathon again next week. We will have camel backs to keep us hydrated, and we will leave earlier in the day. I am proud to say that yesterday I ran a half marathon. I know that soon I will be able to say that I completed a full marathon, and that while I might complain during some of my runs, I will prevail!
And I have to say that I could not be doing this without support from my readers and followers. The comments I get help me to press on. It is certainly a wonderful thing to be surrounded by so many supporters.
Until next time, keep on keeping on!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday Morning
Today is 10/10/10. A piece on the Today Show spoke about how many weddings there will be today because it is a magical number. An expert on the subject stated that if you add the numbers in the date up, you get 5, which she saw as a very positive thing. It seems that being born or getting married today is supposed to make you successful. I disagree. Your success or failure in life is about your attitude about where you are and what you do with that. Life is what we make it, not allowing ourselves to be victims, but to be successes (see my blog, Musings of a Methodist Minister, http://revmjq.blogspot.com/). This attitude is what keeps me running on toward my goal of completing the marathon in February.
Saturday was my first short, relaxing run in quite a while. I met up with my group at 7:30 and just ran. My goal in the beginning was 4, but decided to move on to 5. In the end, I ended up doing 5.6, which made for a nice morning. The cooler air continues to make the runs nice, with temperatures in the upper fifties when I start and no more then 68 when I finish.
Last Monday I did 10 with Amanda. It was her first 10 mile run, and we ended up stopping a few more times and a bit longer then I am used to, but surprisingly I found that our time was still better then my last run. I believe this is the result of 3 factors. First, I am more in tune with how fast I am running. I get a good feel for my speed, and am more in touch with when I am slowing down. Second, I have a running partner, and with the accountability there is someone to help me push through when I am tired, and vice versa. Finally, taking rests for stretching and water seems to give me more energy, making me feel better about the times I stop.
Monday I have a new goal. We are planning on going 13 miles. I am both nervous and excited about this new challenge. The goal is 13 for the next 2 weeks, then 15 the next 2 weeks, then 17 for 2 weeks, and finally 20 from the third week of November through the end of January. The 20 mile runs will be the longest I do before the race, and I will be focusing on time on those runs. My goal is to be able to do 20 miles in 3.5 hours.
So live today, not because it is 10/10/10, but because it is the right thing to do. Look to overcome the adversity in your life, and make the most of what you have!
Love, love, love, then love some more; then, and only then, will you be truly alive!
Saturday was my first short, relaxing run in quite a while. I met up with my group at 7:30 and just ran. My goal in the beginning was 4, but decided to move on to 5. In the end, I ended up doing 5.6, which made for a nice morning. The cooler air continues to make the runs nice, with temperatures in the upper fifties when I start and no more then 68 when I finish.
Last Monday I did 10 with Amanda. It was her first 10 mile run, and we ended up stopping a few more times and a bit longer then I am used to, but surprisingly I found that our time was still better then my last run. I believe this is the result of 3 factors. First, I am more in tune with how fast I am running. I get a good feel for my speed, and am more in touch with when I am slowing down. Second, I have a running partner, and with the accountability there is someone to help me push through when I am tired, and vice versa. Finally, taking rests for stretching and water seems to give me more energy, making me feel better about the times I stop.
Monday I have a new goal. We are planning on going 13 miles. I am both nervous and excited about this new challenge. The goal is 13 for the next 2 weeks, then 15 the next 2 weeks, then 17 for 2 weeks, and finally 20 from the third week of November through the end of January. The 20 mile runs will be the longest I do before the race, and I will be focusing on time on those runs. My goal is to be able to do 20 miles in 3.5 hours.
So live today, not because it is 10/10/10, but because it is the right thing to do. Look to overcome the adversity in your life, and make the most of what you have!
Love, love, love, then love some more; then, and only then, will you be truly alive!
Monday, September 27, 2010
It's Been a While
It's been about 3 weeks since my last long run. Two weeks ago today I did 8, and it was a struggle. I've run with my running team a few times since then, including one timed mile run. I have been pleased that my timed runs are getting faster. In about 3 weeks I've gone from a 12:26 mile to right under a nine minute mile! I ran with my daughter last week in Lubbock. She warned me about a hill we would be running up in Lubbock. Really, Danielle? Over the course of a half mile we climbed maybe 10 feet! It was fun to run with her, though, and we did a decent 3 mile run.
This morning I decided it was time to get back out and do the long run. I would have done this Saturday, but we were pushed for time with a big work event, so Saturday's run was only 3 miles, but at a fairly quick pace. Today I met Amanda under the MoPac bridge and we took off. Her goal was 7, so she went with me to IH-35. We stopped briefly at South First for a water break, then went on our way. We walked a short piece across IH-35 and said our good byes, then I took off for Longhorn Dam.
Up to this point I have been doing about 13:30 minute miles on my long run, but we were averaging 12.25 on our first 4 miles. Unfortunately, I had to stop for about 6 minutes to wait to be able to cross IH-35, so I had significant time added to my run. Despite that, however, I still averaged 12:57 miles, taking about 5 miles off my run time!
I have to say the cool weather helped quite a bit with this. It was 54 when I left this morning, chilly with a lite breeze. Having people to run with helps, as well. I will be doing a timed mile Wednesday, and my goal is 8:15. Saturday when we do our group run, I will be doing ten again, and I believe Amanda will be doing it with me.
As for the rest of you, stay active! I hope to see you at the finish line February 20, 2011.
This morning I decided it was time to get back out and do the long run. I would have done this Saturday, but we were pushed for time with a big work event, so Saturday's run was only 3 miles, but at a fairly quick pace. Today I met Amanda under the MoPac bridge and we took off. Her goal was 7, so she went with me to IH-35. We stopped briefly at South First for a water break, then went on our way. We walked a short piece across IH-35 and said our good byes, then I took off for Longhorn Dam.
Up to this point I have been doing about 13:30 minute miles on my long run, but we were averaging 12.25 on our first 4 miles. Unfortunately, I had to stop for about 6 minutes to wait to be able to cross IH-35, so I had significant time added to my run. Despite that, however, I still averaged 12:57 miles, taking about 5 miles off my run time!
I have to say the cool weather helped quite a bit with this. It was 54 when I left this morning, chilly with a lite breeze. Having people to run with helps, as well. I will be doing a timed mile Wednesday, and my goal is 8:15. Saturday when we do our group run, I will be doing ten again, and I believe Amanda will be doing it with me.
As for the rest of you, stay active! I hope to see you at the finish line February 20, 2011.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)