Get High

Yes, Running Can Make You High

May we all feel it on May 31st.

Fishing in the Dark

I had a good 11 miler last night. I got home from Spokane later than I had hoped, decompressed for a few minutes longer than I should have which meant that I started my run later than I should have considering the location, the quickly setting sun and the absence of K-Fed. Solution: Run really fast. I lost it on the 105th hill (Kate knows the one) at the end of my run and then lay on the floor for a good 10 minutes after I got back, but it felt really good.

Does anyone else get violently cold after finishing a run? I know I used to get a little cold, but I am ridiculously cold after I run now-a-days.

Saw some interesting wild life in the ol' Columbia:

This is one of the fatties responsible for the salmon decline. Remember, place all the blame on him and none on our own excesses.



And here is one of my favorite birds; they make the coolest noise when they are flying down the Skookumchuck (or any river for that matter).

Anyone catch the NPR story on 24? Yea, me neither, but I am sure it is good and will listen to it later.


Enough delirious randomness; I am going to bed.

Ouch.

I might need a new leg when all is said and done.

No, I'm telling you.

Intervals are horrible. My butt hurts. A bone in my lower left leg seems to be gently breaking. And I blame you. I could barely squeeze out three sets at 6:58. Too fast. Thought I was gonna puke. Might have if I tried to do two more. Why did you suggest this? Why do you look all buff and slim in that picture? What color is my parachute?

I need a drink.

I'm telling you.

Intervals.

The real spirit of the marathon

It's my opinion that the real spirit of the marathon is self-deprivation and sacrifice. Purification is the end. Physical training is the means. Who among us has ever romanticized in their mind becoming a shaolin monk? The solitude; the personal thoughts and visualization during the hours spent running alone are themselves a type of meditation. The patience required for achievement. The absence of material rewards. The things we do. The things we do without. Testing physical and mental endurance. Focusing on technique and breathing. Feeding our bodies the things they need and forgoing the things which, under different circumstances, we might otherwise want. And why? Precisely because we don't have to. I do not necessarily mean that marathon training is some kind of religious experience. I mean that marathon training can be likened to a part of a monastic lifestyle. You know, the part that doesn't have to do with worship. Balance, calm, clarity and humility are still attained.

I've often thought of this modern monasticism and why it's so appealing to me, given this age of techno-ease and instant gratification. I think that it feels good to work for something, to struggle, to do without and to accomplish on your own. And make no mistake, when running a marathon, you are very much on your own. I think that part of it goes back to what Chuck Palahniuk said in 'Fight Club': "We are history's middle children...we don't have a great war in our generation, or a great depression...". If there is no common cause, no collective call to arms, then some of us are compelled to an individual one.

I think that it's more and simpler than that, though. It feels good to know oneself - what you're capable of, where your limits are and what you could really do if you really had to. That's the most practical value of so much disciplined dedication.

Accidental Overage & Death by Velcro

I knew I had gone too far when I got to Fletcher's Boathouse, but I didn't realize just how much too far. I'm glad I had some Gu on this run and some scenery I hadn't seen in a while. After a hot shower and some pizza I mounted a serious velcro gun assault on my little brothers, but was beaten, badly. I'm a much bigger target and as James was kind enough to point out, "older and slower". But I ran 12 miles this morning! All you did was go to church!

You know...

It's possible that I'm built a little sturdier than average, but at 5'9", I hardly consider myself a threatening presence. And yet...

It seems like any time that I make eye contact with someone, as often as not, they want to know what I'm "looking at" and/or what my "problem" is. I don't get it. Something about my face, I guess.

Well, not that it's anyone's business, but when I'm running I'm usually "looking at" the 180 degree field of vision ahead of me and my "problem" is that I'm tired. And really...after more than nine miles...I'm just too damn tired to stop in order to satisfy someone's curiosity.

Sheesh!

10-ish

Here was about an hour and a half of my Saturday. I need to go stretch now.

Five. The hard way.

So. I did my five yesterday, but I did it in intervals. I decided to run the 3:00 X 3:00s, which Erin referred to below. It's good in a really miserable sort of way. I do them on the treadmill. You can do them on the ground, but it takes a lot more (I think) both mentally and physically in order to push it as hard, when it's all up to you.

It breaks down like this:

Do a slow (10:00) 1 mile warm-up.

Run for three minutes for as fast as you can maintain. I jumped up to 9 miles an hour, which is a 6:40 pace. I know these things because my treadmill tells me so.

Recover for three minutes. When I'm starting out, as I was last night, I'll drop to a walk (3 miles miles an hour/20:00 minute pace). The first minute is usually spent with my hands behind my head, gasping for air. As I get into better shape, I usually tend to end up jogging during my recovery instead.

Do five sets of these, which will take 30 minutes total.

Finish with a slow (10:00) 1 mile cool down.

Last night, my workout took 50 minutes and I ran 5.06 miles.

Personally, I hate intervals. Or maybe I hate that I love them. I don't know...they are so miserable, but you kind of find yourself looking forward to next week, so that you can do them again.

If you do these, then I will tell you that they will give you a whole new perspective on running. You will use more or less the same muscles that you otherwise always use when running, only more so. You will work them harder. You will definitely know which ones you are working and when you are working them. You will surely focus on your breathing and perhaps even your form, if only in order to keep your mind off of everything else. You will suck in as much oxygen as your lungs will allow. You will exceed your VO2 max and your muscles will operate in oxygen debt. You will soak your shirt and feel the vibration of your ravenous metabolism long after you're done. You may get light headed in your last 30 seconds of each set. You may also experience tunnel vision, numbness in your lips and tingling in your fingers. I'm not trying to sound extreme, I'm just relating my experience. The benefit is that you will get fit - like athletic fit. You will work your whole body. You will feel capable and lean and strong. You will go do this now. You will not think I'm so full of myself when you are done.

Hi everyone,

I've never really blogged before- so I think that's why I've been a bit slow to add my thoughts. Michelle, I mean, Bitches, and I have been doing alright on our long runs....despite my need to throw myself on the concrete and skid for a couple of seconds. We were on a 10 mile run, and at about mile 8 or so I found myself sprawled out on the sidewalk. I got up laughing/hyperventilating and managed to finish. Afterwards I felt like I had aged about 40 years. But I got to pick out some really cool looking neon band aids that make me look really tough.

Anyone else feeling like your hamstrings are working against you, and in turn having a hard time picking up your feet? I've heard stretching is really important- maybe I need to take it up. But I have found that wool running socks rock and prevent blisters. So go pick up a pair if you're having an issue with that. Or, strip a pocket sheep...same difference.

Well, that's all I got for now. I find myself waiting to run when I'm not running. Walking almost seems like a waste of time now- this is a new feeling for me.

Back to picking out bits of road out of the right side of my body!

21 miles this week

I'm 18 runs into this thing and the hardest one yet was the 3 miles I did on Tuesday on the treadmill. Why is this? I ran 8, no problem, on Saturday. I had some lower leg "awareness" (this is my current euphemism for pain) on Sunday so I took an extra day off. I won't do that again. Two days off after the long run made the short run almost unbearable. I didn't hurt. I just felt dragged about by the treadmill. Could. Not. Get. Going. But yesterday's 5 seemed normal again and my extremities hurt only about like they should. Things are looking up in the weather department and Daylight Saving begins this weekend. I'm looking forward to the evening sunshine.

Pamy, good choice on the marathon. If you're not ready you're not ready. I think once you get faster, you'll find it easier to sustain the distances over 5 miles. I highly recommend the treadmill 3x3s where you run as fast as you can for 3 minutes and recover for 3 minutes. They make you faster fast. We'll see how things go and if I haven't regained my sanity by then, maybe I'll run Utah with you.

And to all you non-blogging bloggers, if you're not posting because your runs are just so easy-peasy and you don't want to be a showoff you can go ahead and post. We don't mind. It's just more fun (for me) to write about how horrible it is. It's not really that horrible. Actually, it's more boring than anything. Why don't you liven things up for us? Post a picture. Write a poem. We can always appreciate more pocket sheep photographs.

'Tis the season

For pocket sheep!

It's true. It's lambing season, here in Oregon. I know because I saw some.



And they were playing like puppies!

Oh, also I ran. I think that eight miles is where you cross the line into long runs. Up to five miles is like going for a run. Six miles is a 10K. Seven miles? Eh, what's one more? Eight miles. Now you have something to prove. Anyway, it's done.

Here's the thing: I ran from work. Mostly because, you know, I had to work; it was my turn and all. Prior to my run it was raining so hard that your visibility was impaired. Then came the hail. Then came the sun! My run was more or less sunny and more or less dry. You can't ask for much more than that. The other cool thing was that I got to run on some of the same roads that I ran on as a kid, from about the ages of 10 to 15 (I lived at about the 4-mile mark) and so it was pleasant in a couple of different ways. Please understand that it was still a lot like work and I sure didn't care to bend down for anything when I was done, but my mind was well-occupied while I was out in it, despite the long, open stretches. I'm not running with a watch these days, but I'm guessing that this took me about an hour and twenty minutes. You can check my route below.

P.S.
I hope to keep seeing some Pamy posts from time to time.

There has been a change in plan

I am not quitting. Don't freak out. A marathon I said I would run, and a marathon I shall, so hang onto your invectives.

However, after nearly two weeks of pulmonary malfunction, I am still not 100%. In fact, yesterday I went to help some folks move and after a couple truckloads, I started feeling pretty terrible; this morning I woke up hacking again. So. I think I must needs adopt a Plan B.

I think it would be more feasible for me to run the Logan, UT marathon in September. Give myself the spring to get a nice solid training base and get a little more, well, fit. Then I can train this summer and run the biggie on Spetember 20.

That being said, I have grown fond of you bitches, and I have indulged many a fantasy about road trips to Oregon during my (now seemingly few) miles on the pavement. I dreamed and schemed and hell if I'm not gonna go. So I was thinking, what if I made my goal to run half of the thing and then just walk the rest? I know I can train for 13.1 miles before May 31, but, to be honest, I'm pretty sure I'd have to have a gun to my head to be able to pull out 26.2. None of y'all have guns, right?

So that's my new plan. It feels like a nice cozy little plan, and probably more appropriate for me (given my initial fitness level as evidenced by my ever-bitchworthy pace) even if I had not been stricken down with the plague.

So can we still be friends?