Runningthrumymind

Even though I've been running more lately, I also intend to do more biking this summer. I may very well upgrade to something a little faster myself but first I need to prove to myself that I really am going to ride more. Riding more has seemed to improve my running in the past. I hope you get good news on the running front soon.

This past weekend, I went to Wisconsin to pace a friend for the last 38 miles of a hundred mile race. I was concerned that he would not be able to finish because he had just completed a 150 mile event two weeks prior. He did not make the cutoff time, in order to be allowed to finish, so the only running I got to do was the 5 or 6 miles I ran when I went out to find him. Also, I had run a little over two miles earlier in the day just to make sure I ran some. I've been running more miles recently, just because I can. I was so disappointed when I was no longer able to run a sub 20 5k. For quite awhile, I was sure I would be able to get back to that place. A few more sessions of speedwork, a couple more tempo runs, just a little more effort and I would be back to the runner I had been. I didn't ever find the magic formula that would bring me back. During the time when I was running out to find my friend and make sure he got back to the aid station, it occurred to me how very fortunate I am to be able to continue to do this thing, that has brought so many positive things into my life. I can't run a 5k or 10k in the time I once was able to but I was prepared to run and walk 38 miles. This is something I shouldn't take for granted. Many people are unable to do this and (rumor has it), I won't be able to do it forever. As with many things I think about when I run, there is a larger context; this is applicable to so much more than running. There are many things that I am able to do, at this stage of my life, that I will not always be able to do. I have been fortunate. The runner formerly known as King Coffee

I think it's called cross training because it makes me cross. I injured my knee playing basketball a couple of years ago and I decided I wouldn't play anymore because I didn't want to take time off from running again. About 3 weeks ago, I played basketball again and was surprised and happy to find out I could still cut and move without any sign of injury or weakness.

A little rest is likely to be of great benefit to your running (and to other aspects of your life). Enjoy the wedding and stay away from the buffet table although I could not follow that advice myself.

I'm trying to increase the distance of my long runs. I have been trying for quite awhile but I've been rather unsuccessful. A few years ago, something changed and it has taken a long time for me to accept that this is probably the new "normal". I used to read other runner's blogs and wonder why they talked about the pain of running so much. Since I was already a somewhat older runner, (in my forties), and I ran pain free most of the time. I didn't understand why it would be so painful for so many other runners. Not only did I used to be Kingcoffee, I was also the king of no pain. Somewhere around the age of 48, that began to change. I thought it was just a temporary thing. Seven years later, I just might be ready to accept that this is just the way things are going to be. What is the next stage after denial? Today I did the longest run of this year to date, almost 13 miles. It was a struggle for the first 3 miles but then my muscles began to loosen up. By the time I reached my planned stop at a gas station, my legs were really tired. After a 6 minute break a the gas station, I began shuffling along the bike path again. I was thinking, for the third time that i was going to come up short of my goal which was to run for two hours. Twenty minutes later, I found a renewed sense of vigor and picked up the pace. This lasted for 3 or 4 miles and then I began to struggle again, although not as much as before. The second hour was faster paced than the first hour, which is good, I guess. Every run starts off slow now and the first 3 miles are almost always the hardest. This really sucks for racing 5k"s. I try to run at least a mile and a half before a 5k race now, because it takes so long for my legs to loosen up. I always end up passing a lot of people in the second half of a 5k. It feels good but I sure wish I could get started faster and run a faster overall time. Mostly what was running through my mind while I was running today was, this has really become a lot harder to do.

I'm sure you will be under 4 and 3:40 is likely if you've tapered (which I neglected to do before running Boston).

I remember you from the original Loop as well Sara. It was a rather small group when I first joined and your blog was probably the first one I read.

Yes, like a 50k except that we got a break between each one since they were at different locations and we had to drive from one to another. We also had to wait while our race director went out to re-mark the courses which means he also ran all 10 of them in one day. I'm sure you have been in some races with him, Dave, since he lives in White Lake MI.

Allow me to reintroduce myself. I used to post in the old Loop hosted on the Runner's World site. I was known there as Kingcoffee. I used to love posting blogs and reading other peoples blogs and comments. I stopped doing that because my life became so busy that I could barely find the time to run much less write about it. I started my own company and it took up so much of my time that I didn't have any left for much else. I thought that, if I started my own company, I wouldn't have a "job" anymore. I quickly discovered that I had traded my one job for 5. I posted one blog in this new Loop but I wasn't able to get back to it to respond to any comments or questions. I hoped at that point, to become a regular again but my life quickly returned to the hectic world of running the business, sleeping, running and family. I'm six years plus into running my business now and I think there may finally be time to be a regular contributor. With the extra time commitment of running a business, there has been less time for the activity of running as well. My running fitness has declined, partly due to aging but more so due to lack of training. I have been able to run more consistently lately though and I was able to run a faster 5k last year than I have been able to run for quite awhile. With being so busy with work, I wasn't able to sign up for many races since most of them are on Saturdays. I'm the type of runner who mostly runs, in order to be able to race. Luckily, Friday 5k showed up in time to save my running life. What is Friday 5k? So glad you asked. A runner who lives much closer to Dave (you all know Dave), started Friday 5k but he started it on the west side of Michigan because that is where he spends most of his weekends. Friday 5k races take place on prime numbered Fridays beginning in April and ending in September. There is no entry fee and no t-shirts or medals but the races are timed and you can see your results shortly after the race is over. The races are paid for through donations. The only requirement to participate is that you have to become a member but membership is free. There have been numerous different things thrown into Friday 5k's. At first, the races were held at different places and you only found out where the evening before the race. At the end of one season, we were invited to run all ten of that year's 5k's in one day. Most racers only ran a few of those races but I ran all ten of them in one day. There was a little walking in the last 3 races that day but mostly running. Another year, the races all had different names, complete with theme songs and special prizes. One of those races was called the Aim Low 5k. I received a prize, which was a book titled Aim Low. The book is hilarious and yet also poignant. Another one was called the Sunshine Day 5k and we finished the race to a recording of the Brady Bunch singing Sunshine Day. Somewhere there probably still exists a video of me, my son and 2 foster kids skipping toward the finish line to the music. Now the races are all held at the same venue but there continues to be different contests and prizes tossed into the mix throughout the season. For the last 2 years there have been teams. This year there are no more teams but there will be an event where racers start at different times which are based on there previous Friday 5k times and the idea is that everyone will finish close to the same time. Kind of a handicap race. Some of you may wonder why I switched my name from Kingcoffee to Runningthrumymind. The main reason is that I stopped drinking coffee. Also, I intend for most of my blogs to be about the things I think about while I'm running. I do my best thinking when I'm out running. Running, particular my long runs, usually become a form of meditation and my mind goes rambling around while my body rambles down the road, (or trail). I hope some of you find this entertaining and I hope to be able to continue to write these on a regular basis.

Sounds like a lot of fun. I love racing 5k’s.

Good to hear that it seems not to be an injury. I don’t think I have ever done that many miles in a month.

Congratulations!

This post reminds me why I used to frequent the Loop so much. I used to be known as kingcoffee.

It's just one mile, 100 times. No, you don't have to show me out, I know my way to the door.

A win is a win and sloth is a sin. Congratulations!