Life and running

Date: February 20, 2007
Music: My running playlist
Mileage: 5 miles
Route: To the top of Iroquois Park

Tuesday was a beautiful day after all the cold temperatures and snow we've had. I decided to go up to Iroquois Park and run to the top. I took along my IPOD and even wore shorts.

When I arrived in the park, there were only about 3 or 4 cars parked and only one man, who sat smoking on a picnic table, in the ampithetre area. I stretched a bit and took off.

When I run in Iroquois Park, I am always reminded of the many years I ran here with Nick Truby. Nick was my running mentor and taught me all the things I know about running. Nick has ran all his life and enjoyed helping me get started running. Every landmark in the park brings memories of something that happened on our runs.

About 3 years ago, Nick moved to Florida, with his wife Joan and I lost a great running buddy. I still haven't replaced him. Earlier in the day, I had received an email from Nick's wife informing me that Nick has prostate cancer. It was a shocker, because Nick is so healthy. He is going to have surgery in March and is pretty concerned about it.

As I ran up to the top, I noticed there was no one on the road. I made the entire trip to the top with only seeing one person. It was so peaceful and quiet that I even turned off the music for a while. Nick remained in my thoughts and I imagined a few times that he was running with me in spirit. Every time I passed an area, it reminded me of something that had happened during our many runs.

Running up there was one of the most spiritual runs I have had in long time. Running along in the woods, with nothing but my music and thoughts of Nick, his future and how he was doing.

As I came down the hill, I met another walker, which brought me out of thoughts. I rounded the bottom of the hill and headed back to the parking lot. At the parking lot, the Iroquois Hill Runners were warming up for their hill repeat workouts. I struck up a conversation with one of the runners and he informed me that another running buddy had injured his back and has to have surgery. His running career is over.

Today was a grim reminder that all of our running days are numbered and it doesn't take a much to end them. I am thankful every day for the ability God gives each one of us to run.

The Ice Man Cometh

Date: February 17, 2007
Music: Didn’t even turn on the IPOD
Event: Saturday Long Run 10 miles w/the NQRFPTR’s
Temperature: 20 degrees

The day began as a typical Saturday. I got up at 6 AM and my wife slept on. I made coffee, and then used the bathroom. (My coffee addiction requires coffee immediately on waking up.) I read the paper, got all my running stuff together and most importantly, checked the Weather Channel for impending snow information. The snow was scheduled for later in the day. I jumped in my truck and made the 17 mile drive to Fleet Feet.

I am training for the Nashville Country Music Marathon. I have done the Derby Marathon 3 times and it no longer holds a mystique for me. I did 4 marathons last year, including the Rock 'n Roll Marathon, in San Diego, and have been a little sore from over training. We decided early on to back off the high miles of the advanced training program and go back to more forgiving schedule of the beginner. (No one cares at mile 22 whether you did advanced or beginning training. Especially not your joints.)

When I arrived at 6:55, a few of the NQRFPTR’s were already there. Everyone got out of their warm vehicles and began catching up on the latest news, weather and sports. (Film at 11.)

As we have elected to step back to the beginner marathon training program, our mileage only called for 10 miles. A debate ensued over the route we should take. We elected to run to Seneca Park, to share in the excitement of Camille’s 5K.

We soon decided to hit the road and took off on Eastern Parkway toward the park Graham razzed me a bit about a comment by Manfred regarding all the women I run with. (I can’t help if I exude animal magnetism.) In reality, there are several guys in our group, but most are little guys and/or much faster than me. It's a well-known fact that our group consists of mostly young women and middle-aged men. Nobody knows for sure why, but it's nice running with attractive ladies all the time. I'm around men all week and it's a nice change. Manfred, eat your heart out!

Graham and a few others began to pull away and 3 or 4 of us made our way to Seneca without much trouble, but as always, with great conversation. When we reached the park the faster runners were waiting for us and we used the bathroom and took our lap around the park to even out the mileage.

The trip back was pretty uneventful, but we continually came upon patches of ice, covered with snow that made the footing tenuous. I almost fell on the Seneca track, but my cat-like balance kept me from falling. (Ha-Ha)

We came upon the 5K runners in Cherokee Park and waved at several, as we made our way up to Dog Hill. Dog Hill, as always was tough. I usually begin to get pretty silent on Dog Hill. The constant gasping for breath leaves me pretty much speechless. (Much to the delight of my fellow runners.) When reached the top, we recovered from the climb and began to comment on the early hour it was. We were looking forward to the coffee of the day.

We headed back to Fleet Feet, changed clothes and made the .1 mile trip across the street to Heine Bros. Pam and Dave were already at the table when we arrived. We soon found out that Pam had had a nasty fall on the ice and busted her arm and ribs. She said Dave also fell and landed on top of her. I advised her to put on ice it and was quickly reminded that she is a physical therapist.

Our conversation soon turned to marathons and running as it always does and after mass quantities of Timor, we all decided to head home to finish out the weekend. Another 10 miles in bank.

Fear and Loathing on Eastern Parkway

I've always been a big Hunter S. Thompson fan and the words "fear and loathing" occured to me as I drove to Fleet Feet at 7:25 Saturday morning. "Fear" because you never know how to dress in 14 degree temperatures. You are either dressed too warm or too cold. Memories of a 4 degree morning and frost nip on my fifth extremity came to mind. "Loathing" because running up Eastern Parkway, from Iroquois Park, always brings back memories of struggling to maintain an upright, running position, while trudging up the monster hill at the Medical Center, comes to mind.

As it worked out, neither my fear nor loathing was an issue. The temperatures, although cold, were not excessive. (14 degrees) My loathing, although well founded, was inconsequential. I went into a "zone", (ie: A trancelike state where, although being aware of reality, allows the runner to run practically unconscience for several minutes), at Papa John's Stadium, and on the return run, practically sprinted up the hill.

I began the day running with several people, but finished the turn around with Karin # 1 and Leslie. (We had 3 Karens and had to number them.) We ran to New Cut Road, from Fleet Feet. and back. (Approximately 14 miles.) Several runners cut the run short, because they were training for half marathons. It was generally a beautiful day, albeit cold, and a super workout. We had great conversation about the malaise of people on Valentine's Day, until I went into my zone and ran by myself the last 3 miles of the run. The real bummer was that my IPOD battery was dead and I couldn't run to my "Running Playlist" for the last few miles of the run.

As always, we finished strong and headed to Heine Bros. for great conversation, (discussion of Brittney Spears photogenic anatomy and other topics), and some great Rwandan coffee.

Hump de Bump

Date: February 15, 2007
Conditions: Cold
Music: Stadium Arcadium

As I had not hit the pavement since Saturday, I was relieved to finally make my way to Iroquois Park for a five mile run down Southern Parkway Thursday afternoon. It was very cold, (18 degrees), but as the deluge of rain and extreme cold, (not to mention Valentines Day), kept me inside all week, my withdrawal from pavement pounding got the better of me.

When I pulled into the parking lot at the ampitheatre, I noticed the lot was fairly empty. Only a few hard-core runners had made to the park. The Team 'n Training crowd must have taken the day off. I got out of my car, stretched a little, and took off into the wind. The wind was breath-taking. It chilled me right through to my running underwear. I turned on my Ipod and cranked up Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

After I crossed New Cut Road, I began to warm up. It really felt good to be on the road again. I was jamming with the Chili Peppers and really getting into the run. Almost simultaneously, I tripped on a speed bump when Hump de Bump came up. It occured to me that "hump de bump" was not merely lyrics to a song, but a metaphysical practical encouragement to me. It is the mantra of the runner. I always seem to come to a bump. Now all I have to do is hump it. (Goes to show the goofy stuff that goes through your mind when suffering from hypothermia.)

About half way down Southern Parkway, I met the Iroquois Hill Runners. There were three of them. The "running couple" and another hardy soul. (that explains the other cars in the lot.) I was too into the music to stop and talk, but I waved and picked up the pace as if I was running that fast all the time.

Finally, I hit the Watterson, (the turn around point), and I really began to pick it up. I began to do tempo runs, where I would pick a land mark and sprint to it. Then I would go back to my normal pace. It really made the second half go fast. It also made me appear fast to the drivers on Southern Parkway. (Or so I imagined.)

Thank goodness the light was red when I reached New Cut Road. I stopped, caught my breath and headed up the hill to the ampitheatre. When I reached the parking lot, almost everyone had left except some dog owners walking their dogs. I wondered if the water fountain was frozen or not. I checked it and it was working. It was the coldest drink of water I've ever had without ice cubes. I was fairly dehydrated and it was really tasty.

As I pulled out of the lot, the lights were beginning to come on and I was glad to be leaving. I had "humped the bump" and was ready for a hot shower.