A Quick Look at Acai

Just got a reminder about acai berries from RealAge.com

Acai, which tastes like a curious blend of chocolate and berries, has the highest level of cancer crushing antioxidants of any fruit. Brazilians eat it pureed as a sauce or in a bowl with granola, etc. It doesn't hold up well to shipping fresh, so Americans can only get it frozen, or in liquid or powder form.

I've mostly been consuming frozen acai in morning smoothies that I make for myself, or that my beloved roommates make for me. Now I'm thinking about more adventurous recipes - maybe acai-mint sorbet, or fruit soup. I'll get back to you with my findings and recipes and some good sources for finding acai in your area. Stay tuned.

Ultimate Fitness in a Pill?

Talk about better living through chemistry...

TThis article in the New York Times states that science really is getting closer to providing people with that "magic pill" they can take to make their fitness dreams come true.

Scientists researching two drugs - Aicar and GW1516 - found that both dramatically increase muscular endurance. GW1516 does it with exercise, and Aicar does it (slightly less efffectively) without you moving a muscle. In trials using mice, both drugs tricked muscles into thinking they've been working out. Since, muscles' natural response to exercise is to become healthier and more efficient - resulting in increased endurance. According to Dr. Ronald Evans, the leader of the research team at the Salk Institute, humans and mice have similar mechanisms controlling these responses, so the drugs are likely to work on us as well.

My Take?

I'm torn.

As an advocate of exercise for fitness, self-awareness, and stress relief, it goes against my nature to recommend popping a pill that will take away all your problems. Especially when there's no information on the drugs long term effects.

On the other hand, the drug can be an important breakthrough for people with diabetes, muscle wasting conditions, etc. I can't help thinking that there are people in my family who I love very much who could benefit from something like this. I've seen firsthand what a huge obstacle it can be to go from being extremely out of shape to building a regular health and fitness practice. It's rarely as simple as telling people to get up and run.

With all that saide, I feel I should admit that it just sounds cool. In a science-fiction, "We can build him stronger." kind of way, it feels like the dawn of some kind of Super Humanity. And that makes me want to get myself a tub of popcorn - with just a touch of butter, and maybe some brewer's yeast for the B vitamins - and watch this thing work itself out.

No doubt, these drugs will ultimately offer a lot of hope to a lot of people, while also ushering in a whole new world of problems. We'll hear stories of amazing personal transformation, as well as tales of abuse and possible fatality. Let's hope we have the wisdom to a better job with this new technology than we have in the past.

Until then, I gotta run.

The Long Weekend - Detroit to Philly and back to Brooklyn

Went to Detroit for my sister Faith's theology Ph.D commencement. Saw my beloved and hilarious family. Then to Philly for my best friend's birthday. Here're the running related aspects of the trip:

Detroit
I've become one of those people who "packs their running shoes". You know. The type that marries their high school sweetheart and always flosses before bed.

The kind of person who's pious pretty much just to make other people look bad.

I.am.so.sorry.

Okay, that said...running in Detroit is a trip. It's a city that definitely needs a little love. Crazy wealth disparities and so much unrebuilt architecture. One block would be all mansions, and the next would be like a war zone. Of course, I didn't exactly see all this on foot because:

1. This whole rehab thing is taking its sweet time. The process of upping my mileage is going to be mega-gradual. (More on what that means for Hawaii later), and

2. Detroit's not a place where you run around in neighborhoods you don't know.

Case in Point: Someone tried to steal my sister's car awhile ago. From the church parking lot. While she was in church. Giving a sermon. Because she's the Pastor. And the would-be criminals knew this. Which indicates some deep deep criminality, because I'm fairly certain a stunt like that will send you directly to Hell. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

Instead, I did a few laps around Russell Woods Park just off Livernois, and took my cautious brown self home.

The next morning I was up cross-training at 4am, so that I could be ready to get on the bus to Dayton by 6:30am. I'm glad I squeezed in the extra activity, as the bus trip between Detroit and Dayton is 3 hours each way, so any extra blood flow was definitely a good thing.

Also, during the trip, I ate an entire side of beef by myself, and washed it down with a bathtub full of potato salad and some ginger ale. No joke, my sister's church members were delivering food on an hourly basis. One sister dropped off 20lbs of beef rib tips, a bucket of potato salad, and some seafood salad with pasta. Another brought fried green tomatoes, succotash, a vat of collard greens, and a second bucket of potato salad.

Actually, just typing about it makes me want to lie down for a minute, so I'll stop here.

Philly
smoked fish of many sorts - whole mackerel, trout?, salmon caviar, ceviche, zucchini chocolate cake, and in the midst of that, I packed my shoes. Didn't get to run on that short short trip, though. Man, they take up a lot of space in your bag...

I love the smell of coffee in the morning...

It smells like...my new race!
The Kona Marathon
June 29th, 2008

I figured out that recuperation has set me back about a month, so I was looking for races at the end of June. This one comes at the perfect time. And I can't help that it's in Hawaii. And that part of it's the same as the Iron Man marathon route. And it's in Hawaii. So, all of this means that this will be the coolest.first.marathon.ever.

Yeah...that'sa niiice....

I'm psyched. Just have to work out the (fairly exorbitant) cost of getting there, hotels, etc. Trying to convince my mother to come out too. Life is short, and she's a hoot to travel with.

Wish me luck. Woot!

I love a good run in the morning...

Smells like...victory.

Tried a quick run today. Just dipping my toes back in the water.

15 - 20 minutes - felt very good. shin was fine, and my body felt really...happy...to be running again - no better way to describe it. It's like my blood was pleased to be pumping along in just such a way as only running could provide. I felt an energy surge very quickly. Optimism. Euphoria. All without the searing jolts of pain down the front of my leg.

Coolidge.

Next thing to do is to take these bones out tomorrow and see how the setback has affected my conditioning. Will definitely keep you up to date.

Jog. Or not?

As I go briefly to bed, I ponder the future of my running career. The shin splints tripped my mojo for a bit, but ice, massage, and chiropractic laser are bringing me back. There was a moment when I wavered, figured no one would blame me if I just let this one go. Besides, a 12 mile run is nothing to sneeze at. Then I thought:

Failure can kiss my ass.

Wait, I take that back.

Failure can kiss my black ass.

The Joggernaut is not going out like that.

See you on the tarmac. I'm taking myself out for a little spin tomorrow morning. Then, we're getting back on track.

Check me.

The Walk..the walk..let yo' body talk...

The Infamous Shin
Pic from Gray's Anatomy

Hmm...I'm back to walking. Not speed walking, which actually asks a lot of your shins, but plain old leisurely walking - in the park, around the block, to the grocery store. That's it. I tried to take an easy run over to my friend Noah's studio on Friday to see the project he's been working on with my friend Gregoire. I figured, "It's less than 2 miles away according to HopStop.com, so why not take the opportunity to ease back into running with a relatively short distance?"

Less than halfway into the run, my shin exploded. Backward. It felt like a powerful force was pulling my left shin inward. A shin-plosion. The thing that's annoying about this is that I have no symptoms when I'm not running. I thought that all the resting I've been doing was plenty. Not so.

I'm icing and taking ibuprofen and reading up on shin splints and how to heal them. My friend, Kerry sent me an article about it to start me off. He's a good man. A mighty mighty good man.

An argument for not running though the pain

This article in the New York Times by Gina Kolata confirms the widely held, but previously unproven belief that endorphins are responsible for the fabled "runner's high" that some people experience after exercise.

What really interested me came at the end of the article, which mentioned that Dr. Henning Boecker of the University of Bonn was doing a follow-up study on running's effect on pain perception.

Turns out that runners have higher pain thresholds. In the story, Dr. Boecker is quoted as saying that there are stories of people running on stress fractures or even after heart attacks.

This indicates to me an even better reason not to run through the pain, because:

If you experience pain early in the run, and keep going until it disappears ("running through the pain"), you might be in real trouble, but unaware of it due to some exercise effect that reduces pain perception.

I'm not arguing for hiding from all pain in your life, but it seems like a good idea to pay special attention to the messages your body gives you. Many people I know who are active tend to neglect recovery after exercise. I'm a big fan of the "Recovery Routine" after working out - especially if you have pre-existing injuries. I think most people avoid developing a recovery routine because they don't want to acknowledge that the injury is something they'll always have to monitor, or they don't feel like they have the time for any extra steps around training.

Rest and recovery should be considered an integral part of any physical activity - not just things it would be nice to do "if I had the time".

Aaah, there, I said it.

Acts of Kindness

Yeah, I know this a running blog, and here I am getting all warm and fuzzy, but hey, I'm just doin' my thing.

Check out this site:

http://www.actsofkindnesschallenge.com/

Make sure to visit the comments section on the left side of the page. It's especially nice on those days when you wonder if there's any humanity left in the world. Turns out there is.

Better yet, join the challenge. They're aiming for 1,000 individual good deeds by April 12th.

Peace y'all,
M

The Long Run

"We should all do what,
in the long run,
gives us joy,
even if it is only picking grapes
or sorting the laundry."

- E. B. White

People ask me a lot how the running has changed my body, or affected my dancing. Do my legs look different? Does it cut into my energy? I think about it myself too.

At this point, I would say that the change that I see is primarily internal. Something I used to think of a purely a chore has begun to feel like a joy at times - more and more often as I train. And the sheer act of running for an hour or two straight - no ipod, no distractions - well, that's creating a change I feel too. I hesitate to name it now, but it's there.

Resting up the shin. Back to running tomorrow.

Enjoy the springtime.

Long Run Postponed

I ain' runnin' 14 miles today.

M'shin hurt, an' 'm icin' it.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Icing my shin splint

Went out to run today - planning on 4 miles. Managed to run for approximately 7 1/2 minutes before a shin splint in my left leg went completely bizarre and forced me to stop. I sat on a bench to see if I could work it out with massage and stretching, but after I tried to start running again, it just seized back up. Painful.

On the walk home and tried to run a bit, even to speed walk, but something in the back of my mind said, "Live to run another day." My friend Dustin gave me similar advice when he said, "Never run through the pain." One thing I've learned about injuries from overuse and overtraining - they never benefit from more use or more training.

So I'm back home now - did some light strength work, and now I'm resting up with my ice pack and a hot steam bun from Chinatown. Perhaps a beer is in order. And a hot bath...

Short runs are not always easier

Four mile run today, and by the end,
my
legs
felt...
heavy

This was definitely a recovery run. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that until I had been running for about 2 miles trying to keep my speed up. I figured that after 12 miles, 4 miles should just fly by. My mistake. My time was faster, but I definitely felt the effort. Yikes.

On the bright side, I came home and did some deep movement with my legs, hips, and back - definitely feeling less sore in my quads and hamstrings and more open in my spine afterwards.

Did some light weights yesterday, and it felt like coming home. Might purloin my roommate's chinup bar a little later this afternoon and continue the reunion...

Stats:
3.83 miles
37 degrees
9:20am
38 min
sugoi, black tank, sports bra, fleece pants, foot socks

The Day After

Ok, so, I'm a little sore. today. A foretaste of the post-marathon experience. Long runs must be respected. A big jump to skip from a longest run of 7 miles to a longest run of 12 miles. I get it. I see.

I recently discovered Slope Sports in Brooklyn. It's nice to have a small sports store with knowledgeable people located within walking distance of my house. They connected me with some favorite new tools: Clif Shot Blocks and Amphipod handheld water bottles.

I bought the shot blocks before my 12 miler, and they really did provide extra energy on my run - with the added bonus of having the taste and consistency of gummi bears. I chose the Cran-razz flavor. Much better than those mega-nasty Gu sports gels.

I bough the water bottle after having this experience during my 12-miler:

I finish my first lap of the park (3.35 miles) and start looking for a water fountain. Quickly finding one just off the side of the road, I veer over for a drink...nothing comes out. I begin to scan the horizon like a predator - eyes moving in smooth arcs from left to right, as I seek my watery prey. I start to get concerned as I enter my 5th mile with no fountain in sight. Finally, I see a runner taking a stretch break, and ask him where the nearest fountain is. He says,

"Oh, they turn the water fountains off in winter."

Well I'll be gat-dam!

At that point, here's no way in hell I'm stopping my run, so off I go for 7 more miles without a drink.

The very next chance I got, I was over at Slope Sports looking for a good water carrying solution. Never again will I run for over 2 hours without a drink.

The Dirty Dozen

12 Gods of Olympus
12 days of Christmas
12 months in a calendar year
and 12 miles run by me this very morn - (no walking).

Let's just say I was starting to feel it around December, but I made it through the year with a smile.


and the double digit barrier? SMASHED!

ya betta run!

The New Math

(10 miles/2 days)*80% brick and concrete surfaces = (3 advil + 1 long hot bath)/a serious nap.


(Extra points if you can solve for 3 advil)

Stretchy Stretchy 2

In a recent New York Times article on flexibility, I happened to chance upon this quote:

"But distance runners do not benefit from being flexible, he found. The most efficient runners, those who exerted the least effort to maintain a pace, were the stiffest."

Yippee for me. Yippee, I tell you. Yahoo.

The real gist of the article was that no one really knows whether stretching prevents injuries.

What struck me was that for most athletes stretching for hours a day is a foreign concept. There is simply no space in their regimen for the level of flexibility I'm accustomed to. Even now, as I'm training, I'll do a couple of quad and hamstring stretches, some calf stretches, maybe a few side lunges to stave off a recurrent cramp in my right inner thigh. But really, nothing to write home about in my book.

It's just weird to realize that what's important to me physically doesn't really register in a runner's world. I really do feel like a traveler sometimes in this process. Like an impostor. Maybe a tourist...

Thursday's run:
Distance: about 4 miles
Duration: 41 minutes
Time: 5:00 pm
Temp: 42 degrees (surprisingly cold again)
Wore: Sugoi, sports bra, black workout pants

Marathon Weight Gain - the funny joke that makes you sad

I'm fascinated by the phenomenon of marathon training weight gain. This isn't your usual muscle-weighs-more-than-fat situation. It's your actual more-ass-weighs-more-than-less-ass quandary.

I just think it's funny. I can't help it. The link in the title above is the most thorough explanation I've found for it. I'm embarrassed to admit to some of those mistakes myself. The thing is, they creep up on you. For instance

I definitely eat more of the cookies, etc. that my roommates sprinkle around the house. And I do mean sprinkle, as these kind gentlemen are like candy fairies running around with magic wands and covering everything with chocolate. The thing is that I have to be very vigilant about keeping fruit in the house, as carb desperation is generally accompanied by a loss in mental faculties due to the depletion of glucose stores in the brain. This frequently renders me both hungry and stoopid.

I also neglect other training types. I haven't lifted consistently since I started running - let alone more complex dance training. This has sho' nuff got to change - and will be doing so forthwith. Or is it posthaste?

This conversation on the Runner's World forum is also a hoot: Weight gain during marathon training

I love that deciding to train for a marathon means putting in even more work to maintain a healthy weight. Whoopeeee!!!!

Time to go meditate and then do a 4 mile run. Stats to follow.

Well, don't that just beat all?

I'm back.

I deeply dreaded this run. In fact, I fully expected it to suck. Imagine my surprise when I head out into the gathering dark to complete my cardiovascular chore, and...it rocked!

The run was great. Even ran into my friend Megan while I was out.

Distance: 5.57 miles - not half bad!
Duration: 1 hour
Wore: support tank, sugoi, blue terry sweat pants
Temp: 47 down to a surprisingly cold 41 degrees

I started out expecting to do a specific route, but ended up improvising in the middle of my run. The plan was to do 6 miles today, but I was feeling so anti-motivated that I would have been happy with 3. It worked out that my impromptu jazz riff of a running route was practically the same distance. I had so much energy at the end of the run, that I wanted to keep going. My stride felt easy and low impact. My breath was good. I had plenty of energy in my legs. The only thing that held me back from continuing was that I was beginning to feel really cold. I think it was the difference in temperature between daylight and dusk. Wanting to stay on the safe side of getting sick, I decided to bring it on in.

And all I had to do was write a grumbling post while I slowly lured myself into running by tricking myself into getting dressed and hauling it out the door.

My speed is even picking up a bit.

Jubilation.

I even came up with a new mantra:
Once You Start, You Won't Wanna Stop.

I call it an 8-Step Mantra - because the words go over 7 steps, and the 8th step is the beat in between:
1 - Once 2 - You 3 - Start 4 - You 5 - Won't 6 - Wanna 7 - Stop 8 - (beat)

Once I got it going in the background in my head, everything suddenly got so easy...

On Motivation: Grumble Grumble Grumble

I've read a number of articles that talk about motivation

And I've come to a conclusion:
I'm doing all of them.

Truth is, I am just plain ambivalent about running. I have yet to fully commit to calling myself "a runner". Instead, I simply say that I'm training for a marathon.

I am, in fact, getting dressed to go running right now, and I don't want to go running.

I am putting on my shoes.

All that's left to do is walk out the door...and I can't quite bring myself to do it.

Grrr, argh!!!...I am leaving the house.

Bitch is the new Black

Slow and steady really does win the race.

Usually, when asked why I decided to train for a marathon, I would say things like, “To prove something to myself”, or “To do something I never thought I’d be able to do….”, but the real reason, which I find a little harder to explain is – “Because you can’t cram a marathon.”

In other words, if I haven’t been consistent in my training, no amount of inspiration or finesse or just plain last minute smarts is going to get me across that finish line. There is no secret trick here, I just have to keep running, again, and again, a little more every week, and in the end, I will be someone who can run 26.2 miles.

And a marathon is a finite thing. 20 miles is not a marathon. 26 miles is not a marathon. In order to have done this, I have to go all the way. I'm proud of my progress, but the fact that I’ve done more than I ever thought possible for myself is just a starting point.

Running is not creative. Running is not complicated. Running is as straightforward as putting one foot in front of the other until you’ve gone as far as you set out to go.

Simple as that.

For someone who works in creative bursts and recuperative lulls, this has to be one of the most difficult concepts, both to grasp and to execute, that I could possibly undertake.

Yikes.

Ran 3.5 miles yesterday -
time 40? –
temp 37? –
wore sugoi, black tank, fleece pants, footie socks

Just glad I did it. Still needing to catch up on distances for my long runs. Fearing the double digits – they just feel like a point of no return….

And just like that...

Sometimes, I love the act of running. The Machine Moment, that point of complete absorption in the physical act of moving - enlightened locomotion. I can sustain it for...maybe a minute. Maybe two. But knowing it's there, just on the other side from where I am - a place that I can reach into and hold onto for just a little while. To be running and at peace with everything.

Sometimes, I love the fact of running - the knowledge that I left the house in the first place to put a few more miles of road under my feet. The slow progress that is progress nonetheless.

4:30pm (on 3/5/08)
3.5 miles
39 minutes - feeling sluggish - ate just before running
50 degrees
sports bra, leggings, black hoodie, grey long sleeved shirt (missed the sugoi)

Back on the Run

I don't know what happened. It's like I burst through something. Suddenly, all my obstacles were out of the way, and I looked down to find myself tying up my shoes and walking out the door. I went out to the park and started a good solid run.

3:30pm
3.35 miles
34 minutes
55 degrees
sports bra, wicking top, light hoodie, cotton/spandex dance pants

I think it's because of all of your support, advice, and encouragement when I hit the roughness. It was great to have some of you say that doing it is very different from saying that I "could have done it". There were those of you who said that no race is worth burnout or injury, and there were those of you who said that I didn't have to run if I didn't want to.

Thanks to all of you who wrote in to set me at ease.

I don't know that I'm completely out of the woods, so don't hesitate if you find something especially inspiring to send or write. The distance will only be getting longer from here.

* Extra points for anyone who knows the name of the band that wrote this song. Triple points if you know the year

That's Motivation!

So here's the thing. I've been suffering a crisis of motivation of late. A mental mountain has stubbornly refused to wear away. I've been missing runs, y'all and I needed a boost, so I recently went back to an email my friend, Elizabeth wrote me. She ran the New York Marathon last year, and said it was alright for me to share it with you here.


Hey there.

First of all, anything I know about pasta making I learned from you.

Second, I think it's totally great that you're running the big race with a friend, and that you're challenging yourself in such an amazing way.

Third, in answer to your question -- when things got tough, I kept going b/c I wanted to prove something to myself. They did get really tough -- when I reached my first runs of 17/18 miles -- my knees got really stiff and sore and I began to question the whole stupid enterprise. But I fought through it b/c I had come so far and was so determined to do this (again, really just to prove to myself that I have the will to stick something out like that). Also, I quit smoking in August, and the training really helped me with that process.

But once you complete your first long run (like 17/18 miles), you just KNOW in your heart you can do it. There seemed to be some sort of hurdle to get over -- -the hurdle of the unknown more than anything else. On the flip side, once you know you can do it, you may start to question (as I did) whether it's worth it to go through with it. I recall having a convo with my downstairs neighbor after a particularly gruelling work out where I said to him -- Dude, I KNOW I can do this, but I'm at the point where it seems pointless and it takes up so much time [gripe gripe gripe]. And he said (rightly so) -- Knowing you can do something, even being able to do something, and ACTUALLY DOING IT, are entirely different things. And that stuck with me very strongly. Plus at that point you only have a month or so to go most likely -- and at that point you're so heavily invested that as long as you're not in real pain or risking further injury to your body -- JUST DO IT!

It's totally awesome when you do, and the day after, and the week after, and every now and again when you're feeling shitty and then think back to what you've accomplished and you'll always have that amazing memory.


So if you have any advice, motivation, suggestions, or know someone who's run a marathon and has some thoughts to share, please leave a comment. Ideally, your comments would also help other folks in training who hit an icy patch along the way.

Stretchy Stretchy

As per Dagan's request, here's an image of an inspiring runner.

The gentleman above is Steve Prefontaine. Arguably the best distance runner in American history.


I like him, because his body was a little bulky and muscular for a long distance runner, and he had kind of a gamey-legged stride.

And he beat everybody and had a giant ego.

Time: 5:30pm
Temp: an even 32 degrees
Distance: 4 miles or so
Duration: 40 minutes
Wore: Sugoi, tank top, sports bra, thigh socks, fleece pants, tiny little foot socks and patience

Felt good. Felt amazing to think that this distance is my low key easy distance now. Had a stitch for a little bit. Made a new friend of a middle-aged man who runs at just about my pace. Looked like he could have been one of my uncles. Left leg a little tired at the end without the chance for a second wind that comes with longer runs.

Came home, quick carb replacement w/juice, and then stretching and sourced abdominal training. Important to stay connected as a whole body human being. Agile and integrated and whatnot. Wouldn't want to lose track of myself from the waist up. ;)

Every little run is a blessing...

Except when it it's a 7 mile run! Then it's just a big ole miracle!

And I even had a good time in the process.

Temp: 61 degrees
Distance: 7 miles - I wonder how far that is in dog miles...
Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
Wore: Sugoi, sports bra, fleece pants
Start time: 1:15pm or so

Took an ice bath and ooooohhh lalalalala!! She stings. And then she tingles. My legs feel like they have little sprinkles inside them, and yes, I'm typing with a runner's high.

The things I did differently and well were:
1. Loading up on carbohydrates the night before and the morning of. Juice, fruit, etc.
2. Getting plenty of sleep
3. Taking a sports gel with me - which tasted like liquid sweet nasty and blossomed in my belly like some misbegotten child. But still, half a squirt sure helped with pickup in my legs. A must have for longer runs from now on.
4. Reloaded with a smoothie with banana, soy milk, protein powder, yoghurt, and juice after ward
5. Ice bath for 15 minutes
6. Real food after the ice bath - tuna with apples, raisins, mayo, whole grain mustard

then off to life.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

Previous Run:
February 16th,
10:05 am
Wore: Sugoi. sports bra, thigh socks, cotton/spandex shorts, wicking tank, sweatshirt
Temp: 23 degrees
Distance: 3ish miles

Grrr...the plan on Saturday was for 7 miles. Ran with Dagan, and couldn't get my mind right. Distracted. We ran in the park and ended up running alongside the Cherry Blossom (or some kind of blossom) 10 mile Fun Run that was taking place at the same time.

Perhaps at a later point in my running life, 10 miles will seem like a thing to do for fun - like making crepes, going to the beach. But right now, the whole thing seems like an oxymoron twisting in on itself.

From the beginning, my legs felt heavy. My left knee was tight. I was feeling woozy (yes, that's a technical term), and I realized pretty quickly that my long run is not the occasion to catch up with a good friend who just so happens to run too. Multi-tasking usually results in not being able to really focus on anything, so I wasn't having fun on the run, and I wasn't really having fun with my friend.

After a few miles, my body refused to fall into its natural groove. I was having a hard time tuning out the Fun Runners with the race staff yelling, "C'mon!!! You can do it!!. Plus, my friend's steady stream of wittcisms kept pulling me away from finding my Machine Moment. Plus, I was feeling a little light-headed and found myself alternating between running and walking to get it together again. That's when I realized I had to make a choice.

I decided to bench the run. Instead, we went out for brunch at Cheryl's Global Soul. The poached eggs over salmon hash with hollandaise is highly recommended.

This wasn't my best running moment by far, but I do think I learned a few things:
1. Get enough sleep. I can no longer indulge in my 4-5 hours a night tendencies and expect to have the juice to keep going on long runs.

2. Run with people with similar goals and skill levels. People say this all the time, but it's true. Running with someone who's about at my pace and also focused on completing a marathon is a completely different experience from running with someone who is way way faster than I am and just out for a casual run. If your vibe doesn't fit with your partner's, the whole thing just starts to suck for all involved.

3. Be driven, but don't knock yourself out if something doesn't quite go the way you planned along the way. I was pretty disappointed at first after stopping the run, but I realized that I probably needed the rest, had to look at my nutrition schedule, work on my mental training, and accept that most of my training would have to be solo, if I wanted to be able to finish my marathon. I also think I made a mistake trying to push my speed on Thursday. No need to force it.

So I woke up today, and spent some time reading from the Marathon Rookie E-book to get a sense of what I could change. Then I mapped some runs on FavoritRun.com.

I'm not missing any more long runs.

The Ice Bath Cometh

Time: 7:00pm
Wore: Sugoi, sports bra, white cropped pants, grey wool knee socks
Temp: 39 degrees
Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 25 minutes

I just took my first ice bath today, and it was...like...

YEEEOOOOOWWWWEEEEE!!!!! MOTHER%#@&ER!!!

No, really. You have to understand that it was a truly troublesome experience to sit myself down in that tub, and stay. To say that it was bracing to my nethers would be an understatement, but the real trial - and I did not expect this - was the burning sensation in my poor little toes. I finally had to find a position where my thighs and legs were submerged up to the ankles, but the tops of my feet were out of the water. Sort of holding them up in the air braced against the tub. Challenging to say the least.

However, I do think I've hit upon a new strategy for surviving this particular form of recuperative torture. It involves blaring "Mr. Roboto" by Styx on my Mac while I sing it at the top of my lungs and periodically do the robot with my unsubmerged upper body.

Oh, and cuss words. Lots and lots of cuss words. I'm proud to say that I impressed even myself in my vocabulary, inventiveness, and stylistic flow. Pure vituperative genius.

Hey, whatever works - I managed to stay in for 12 minutes 34 seconds, before enough was enough.


Needed the bath, because I decided to speed up my pace on my run today. Really kicked it out on the first mile and finished in 8:55. Proud of that. The full run (2.5 miles) lasted about 24 minutes. That puts me at about a 10 minute mile pace.

Since I was running at night, I ran on the (punishing concrete) sidewalks on the outer loop of Prospect Park. When I finished, my left knee was complaining, and I didn't want to skimp on recovery. So I went off and took the plunge.

Also, I mapped my run from yesterday, and it comes out to 4.75 miles instead of 4 miles, so I thought the bath would be good protection against over-training.

All is good.
All is good.
All is good.

PS - Got a fellowship today and made a new friend.

PPS - Happy Valentine's Day, and Happy Birthday, Alicia.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
3:15 pm
Distance - 4 miles
Temp - 54 degrees, finishing Temp 45 degrees and rainy
Wore: Thigh socks, sugoi, sports bra, light exercise pants,

Not a bad run today, considering...loaded up on simple carbs before heading out - maple syrup, honey, lemon juice, and water. My legs definitely felt better during most of the run. I'm absolutely going to have to pay attention to the amount of carbohydrate calories I consume before even these short and mid-range runs. I'll have to start practicing eating while I run. The main problem is that I burn through carbs so fast. They're what I need right now, but I'll have to keep up a steady stream to keep going for a long time. Maybe I can rig something with one of those beer can hats with the straw that leads down to your mouth. Except I can fill it with sports gel and gatorade. Genius really, but best not to get ahead of ourselves. In the meantime, I have to be very careful to alter my life(style) and body to the ways of the "slow and steady wins the race"-type runner. Everything about me is different now. I want carbs and sugary stuff all the time. My beloved proteins are simply not as attractive as they once were. I miss my muscle-builder's appetite.

Today, I learned two things:

1. I'm really built for sprinting. A quick burst across the Serengeti, a single arcing leap lands me atop the fleeing muntjak. I down my prey, and bask with my cubs in the setting African sun as we chew the last morsels of that hapless herbivore's tiny life. I definitely felt better when I picked up my pace, even if it meant I couldn't hold onto it for very long. I always want to speed up. Always.

2. Running in the rain sucks. Especially the puddles. And the wet socks with puddle-squish mushing between your toes. And getting splashed by passing cars. I'm going to have to invest in some impervious-to-the-weather-type gear. Running really is turning out to be all about the toys.

Lets see how 3 miles goes tomorrow.

Also, I found a great first marathon blog today. Check it out.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Run: Monday, February 11, 2008 -
2:55pm
distance - 3.35 miles, temp: 21 degrees,
wore: sugoi, sports bra, thigh socks, terry exercise pants. foot socks, hat, hoodie, sometimes a grimace, sometimes a smile
Struggled today. None of the soreness left over from last week, but still...What is it about the first run of the week? Felt heavy in my legs, and kept fatiguing - was able to wake my body up by sprinting short distances, and then walking. Felt fine up until about 21 minutes in, and then tanked. Possibly not enough calories in me? Possibly going too fast? Possibly the weather? Most likely a combination of the bunch. I think I went into the run over-confident, and then neglected to focus on the mental aspect before heading out for the run. Once I fatigued, I had a hard time finding a mindset to key into to keep going. Glad I went, though. There's something about the hard runs, that remind me that this is a challenge, and any progress I'm making is earned. I am better, stronger, etc. than when I started, and it will get better and better. I just can't assume something will be no sweat until it actually becomes no sweat. I also have to be reminded that I will be able to finish the marathon on race day, as long as I keep up with the program, but...a lot of it will take place in my brain. Run like the wind, baybee.

Also, must start remembering to weigh myself before and after runs and measure bodyfat, and water, etc. I'm supposed to do this to see how fluid I lose to perspiration and then try to get back to my pre-run weight within 2 hours. It's just been so many years since I've even owned a scale, I have the habit of thinking of it as a funny little toy, instead of a piece of fitness equipment...

Sunday, February 10th, 2008 -

(Ran Saturday, February 9th, 2008 - )

Time: 2:00pm

Weather: about 35 degrees w/periodic drizzle -

Wore Sugoi, thigh socks, fleece sweat pants, ankle socks, sports bra, tank top -

Distance: 6 miles

Run Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
I ran six miles yesterday.

Wait, let me rephrase that.

I RAN 6 MILES YESTERDAY!!!!

On top of that, I was able to run for over an hour without stopping!!! If you had asked me just a few months ago if I was capable of that, I would have told you no - and then maybe hit you upside the head for asking. Just a gentle tap, but still.

Because six miles is a long way. And I never used to run.

My friend, Dynishal and I did two laps around the park - a full loop, and a modified loop. The second lap felt much better than the first. As always, the first lap involved about 30 minutes of struggle as my body sorted itself out - left ankle, left outer knee, back, etc. Breath got a little choppy taking the big hill on the first lap, and had to shorten my stride to get in back in line. The second lap started with a bit of a pause as I sorted out that right behind the knee cramp that I've now decided involves all three muscles that attach into the pes anserine. That cramp comes later and later in my runs as my cardiovascular and muscular respiration capacities improve. It passed early in the second lap, and we were sailing. At the end,I felt a little nausea and a bit of a side stitch, but they both worked themselves out, and I really felt light and good in my legs. Springy. My lungs really opened up in the second lap, and I realized that they have their warm-up period as well. I reached a Machine Moment in the second lap as well, where my legs seemed to be moving with metronomic regularity - my whole body unified in the act of running - effortless. Breath coming just right and on rhythm. Everything unconscious. It really does feel like flying.

Running with Dynishal is great. We're the same height, run at the same pace, we both take this seriously, and we're not too chatty. There's something about entering the focus zone with someone at your side...like a shared energy. Everything becomes more clear and easy. Like they're doing part of the work of running as well. I'm really glad to be training for this marathon with her. After yesterday, finishing a six mile run after two weeks off, and being unsure whether I could make a whole six miles - it's amazing to realize that I really felt like I could have kept going for at least another mile. I finished this session knowing that I can complete my 7 mile run next week, and that we can complete a 26.2 mile marathon with only having run 20 miles by that date. It all made perfect sense.

The only downside is that this whole low appetite thing meant I was running without quite enough food, and I was feeling light-headed by the end of the run. It was strange, because I really felt like I could have kept running. I'll have to start now with taking a little energy like sports gel, and maybe some water. I forgot to weigh myself before and after the run, so must get in the habit of that as well.

I can't wait to run tomorrow. Only three miles, so I can start to work a bit on my speed. Lucky day.

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

Running is ruining my appetite. I'm having a hard time getting enough calories. Just tried to have breakfast with a friend this morning, and could barely touch my food. Weird. And this isn't the first time. Sometimes, I only eat one real meal in a day. It's not the same as when I was lifting more. Then I was constantly starving and could eat like a Mack truck. I vastly preferred that situation. I'll have to figure something out...maybe go back to weight training on some of my off days, or something. Maybe I should adopt a more bacon-centric lifestyle. Yes. Let's bring bacon t the center.

Friday, February 8, 2008 –

35 degrees –

wore: Sugoi, tank top, sports bra, thigh socks, loose knit stretch pants –

44 minutes – to the park, around the park, and back –

must check distance, but about 3.6(?) miles

FINALLY!! My prophecy of being shocked shitless by my progress has come true. I must admit I was a little spooked by my last run – so difficult and much less endurance. Today, however, truly amazed me. I started out running with the usual beginning difficulty, but soon was able to get my mind right. When the crampy feeling came, I simply asked myself how I felt. I felt fine in my legs, I felt fine in my breathing, so the only place that was troubling me was my tummy. I told myself that the feeling had always passed before, and before long, it did. Soon enough, and I looked at my watch and had gone 11 minutes, then 15 minutes. I had told myself I only had to do 30 minutes today, which was my longest continual run, so in my mind, I was halfway done. Then I looked up, and it was 27 minutes, then 30…at which point I told myself everything else was gravy. The only time I really slowed was on a hill very late in the run, but after I crested that, my energy came right back, and I was running better than I had the whole run. The whole time I was training, I kept looking at the beautiful trees ahead and thinking, “I get to run to that right now. I am so fortunate to get to run to that right now.” I was at about 40 minutes as I came out of the park. Feeling amazing and like I didn’t need to stop at all. In fact, If I hadn’t had someplace to be, I would have kept going. I felt at that moment, that I truly was a runner.

As I was running back home, I experienced for the first time what I call a MACHINE MOMENT – when everytying was pumping like a metronome, my mind was totally focused and clear, and all was right and unified in my world. I suddenly realized that this is what the Kenyans must feel like.

I got home at 44 minutes.. I can’t wait to run again.

February 7, 2008

This article on internal/external training:
http://www.marathonguide.com/training/coachmindy/physicalAndMental.cfm


Explains so much about what it means to run from the inside out.

February 6, 2008 - 3:15pm -

66 degrees -

wore: tank top, spors bra, white workout capris -

Distance 3.2 miles -

post-run weight 121 lbs.

I am about to do my first real run in over two weeks, and my first mileage run ever. I am scared shitless. As in terrified. As in, I'm being totally honest here in saying how shitlessly terrified I am. I know that, logically, this distance will be nothing to me in another couple of weeks or so. In fact, I may have already run something close to it in previous training. I'm still scared. But I have to go out today. I have to. I just have to. I am staring at my running clothes and the new socks I've picked out for luck. It's the warmest weather I've run in, and I'm trying to figure out how to dress so I don't overheat. I'm not equipped for heat and rain...all this is so new to me. The 20 degree rule says that if it's 66 degrees outside, then my body thinks it's 86 degrees.


Exciting, though. Exciting.



After the run:

Okay, so that was not my studliest excursion, but I did it. With lots of walking and stops and starts, I did it. With every step, I reminded myself that I was making myself stronger, my heart stronger, my legs, my soul. I listened to my body and respected the time off I took. Most importantly - I went out and did it.


Back in the saddle, Baybee!


I started out with a mild headache, which abated in less than a mile. Things were stop and go for a while, and then went to that smooth sailing feeling where it seems like you can just run forever. Then the cramps set in - stomach, back, and the back of the right knee that likes to kick in every now and again. That one seems to be the distal attachment of semi-tendinosus - just proximal to the pes anserine attachment. And the top of the media gastrocnemius. Gotta look into remedying that.


I will definitely be focusing in these next few weeks on getting to a very comfortable place with my shorter runs - I can't believe I'm going to be attempting that 5 mile run on Saturday, even with the time off. I can do it, though. I know I can.


Must add that the extent of my de-trainng had as much to do with mental training as physical training. I could feel myself struggling to remember those little tricks that keep me going. I could feel those techniques coming back to me out of the haze. Gotta give a quick re-read to the Marathon Rookie book and check on some motivation and mental imagery sites.

February 5, 2008 -
Quick 7 minute blast.
About 5pm

Felt good to get my feet pumping again. My schedule has been really pulled tight by being sick and having to strew my computer's out all over the living room table. Now that I and my technology are both back in commission, it's catch-up time on all fronts. Didn't have time today for a full run, but wanted to go out anyway to remember that my legs worked. Felt great. Amazing really.

January 30, 2008,

last run: January 21st. - 25 minutes - strugglin'

What??!! I haven't run in almost 2 weeks. Somehow, just couldn't get myself to do it the first week I came back from Little Rock, and then took sick this week. Color me demoralized as I have yet to do a 40 minute run, nor have I been able to start mileage this week. Marathon Rookie guy suggests just starting back with training as if you'd never missed any training time. I think it's crazy talk, but so is running a marathon, so I'll take his word for it.


Right now, I'm hot and dehydrated and stuffed up and achy, and every morning, I wake up and want to commence to running, only to subsequently stand up and realize that that is not to be the case. And coughing. Mustn't forget the coughing. I am short tempered and my eyes hurt. My body aches almost carelessly. I have only meditated about once in 2008.


Maybe it's the combination of traveling and also trying to keep up my running schedule that's slowed me down. Once again, crazy talk, but I will perservere. Whatever happens:


I AM STILL A RUNNER.


I am fully prepared to be shocked shitless by my retained abilities when I do recommence to running. I honestly think that my hiatus was simply my body knowing it needed a break after all of the traveling and caretaking and what not that I had been doing over these past couple of months - possibly also and internal sense that sickness was coming on and I needed to rest up. Whatever it is, I'm trying to be as lazy as possible and look forward to getting back on the path.


Visualize success...


Joined New York Road Runners tonight to start the process of ensuring entry in the 2009 New York Marathon. I thought it would be interesting not to wait until the very last minute - weighing the decision repeatedly, constantly turning it over in my mind...Turns out, there does come a knot in my stomach as I choose something that I can't turn back from - making a choice when I'm not pushed up against a wall. Shiny.


Now for more juice, and the legal-narcotic ecstasy of Nyquil Cough (tm).

January 20th - 28 minutes -

Ran in Little Rock - the hills, the hills. Very steep. Love running by my mother's place. Hills so steep and curving, you're never sure when the top will come, and then flat in the park. In my mind, Prospect Park has no elevation. Not compared to Little Rock hills. But then again, that's what I grew up with. Not being able to see far away for all the mountains and trees. Even in town.

January 17th - Thursday - 7:30am - 41 degrees - sports bra, wicking tank, long-sleeved shirt, knit pants, gloves

Missed yesterday's run with travel. My schedule is so much harder to navigate when I go to Little Rock. I have to be much more vigilant in order to get my runs in. Add to that the fact that my family runs on a 24 hour schedule, and it means inadequate sleep as well. Well, off to do my 30 minute run - my first one ever. I have to do it without stopping. Without stopping.



Post-run;

30 minutes?


NO SWEAT!!


Well, plenty of sweat, actually, but really no problem on the running tip. I actually felt better than on my shorter runs. Definitely interesting to feel the process of my legs changing over to being cool with running during each session. They start out feeling sore and heavy, and I have to decide to keep going - then after they recover/warm-up/blood flows, they feel fine and can pump like a metronome. I think one of the things about being a mesomorph is that that changeover takes longer to happen than in ectomorphs. Would be an interesting concept, suggesting that I might be more naturally well-equipped to run long distances than I thought.



If, by some grace, I'm able to run tomorrow, I would like to run painful hill repeats over by the trailer, as that will be the best thing to burn out the stifling pent-up emotional energy that I have felt during this trip. The problem is absorbing everybody's emotional energy, and having no space here that belongs solely to me. Quite simply, at this moment, and feelings do change, I am sick of being a guest. Plus, the moral suppor tthing is draining when you don't have a little space to do your own thing. I am only now coming to a place where running can be that escape for me. Set me free.

January 15th, 2008 - Tuesday

ran at 4pm

weight - 121.1, bodyfat - 19.9, water: 56%

temp: 36 - some snow,

wore: sports bra, Sugoi, tank top, fleece pants.

Totally missed yesterday. Between coming back from Philly and running to the Upper West Side to see what crazy talk is going on with my Mac - and staying to work on it, until we finally gave up in frustration at midnight. I didn't run. Even considered a late night excursion when I got home, but didn't count on it taking an hour and a half to make the trip. Now, I'm editing my running schedule to Tuesday/Wednesday, Friday/Saturday. Hopefully that will be okay with my body.

Needed the rest anyway.

Also, my new scale arrived yesterday. Now I know my weight, bodyfat, and most importantly - water - before and after each run. I can start keeping track of my hydration levels now, before I start my long runs. Which reminds me - Must water the plants before I leave town tomorrow....

Ok, off to the races...

Post run: 28 minutes - wt. - 121.2%, bfat - 19.8%, h2o - 56.1%
That was a challenge. Tried to lengthen my stride, which definitely tired me a bit. Knee hurt a little bit. Must remember to wear a brace next time. Had some mini-stops and starts. Need to make sure to get adequate calories 30 min. before I go out. All in all, not bad though. Finished strong and feeling good. Lets see how 30 minutes feels tomorrow.

Now, off to eat some of Kerry's deeee-licious turkey chili with collard greens.

January 13, 2008 - Sunday!!! - Total rest day - time to reflect and recharge for the coming week.

Let me just start off this entry by saying that I can't believe that in three weeks, I'll be running 5 miles. 5 MILES, BYTCHES!!! Crazy talk! These next two weeks are still timed runs - between 20 and 40 minutes. I'm going to talke this time to work on speed, stride, and mental imagery. Also, my scale should be arriving on Tuesday, so I can get a base sense of bodyfat, and start weighing myself before runs. I also want to get my Road Runner's membership dues in, and my Buffalo registration. Nisha and I have to think about accomodations. Maybe she can rock some of her Craigslist mojo and get us some great apartment situation, instead of some sorry hotel. She does have the magic.

The great comfort of doing this race training based on a set program, is that I can wake up in the morning and know what I need to do for my training. No lying in bed staring at the ceiling and wondering how far I should run today, or how fast. The only decision I have to make is what time to run, and how to dress most appropriately for the weather. If something happens to put me off that schedule, I can simply get back on it, and all things are well again. An oasis of certainty in an uncertain world. I wonder how I can extend that oasis in the rest of my life?

There are so many new projects coming up that truly excite me, but also tell me that I'm going to have to get a serious handle on my time in order to simultaneously:
1. Pay rent
2. Make steady progress on my new show
3. Dispatch new short and long term projects as they arise
4. Successfully train for and complete a marathon on May 25th, 2008 in Buffalo, New York.

As it gets on into the beginning/middle of May, I'm going to be doing some much longer runs on the weekends. Those bad boys are going to have to be scheduled in order for me to make sure they fit in. The Marathon Rookie guy suggests that I start my long runs - "especially your 20 mile run" - at the same time as the start of my scheduled race. That just so happens to be SEVEN FUCKING A.M.

His mama stank.

And he's probably right.

Dang.

I really do trust this guy's plan, though. Every week, I've been able to progress as scheduled, even when I was unsure that I'd be able to take the next step. This is good, because I'm kind of twitching with concern about the weekly mileage increases on my long runs. I really think I can do it, though. I think the program really prepares you for the ramp up.

I can do this. I know it.

Ok. Time for a shower. Then off to Philly

January 12, 2008 - Saturday - 10:15am
26 minutes - 44 degrees
wore exercise tank w/built in bra, Sugoi cling hoodie, medium weight exercise pants

Ran with Dagan today. This marks the first time I've ever gone running with someone. We had a ball. A great big ball. Dagan's always good company, and he kept up a stream of cleverness to keep me entertained. He checked my stride, gave me pointers, and was generally a fun time. Seth from downstairs was right, it is hard to keep track of your breath and carry on a conversation. The whole session with Dagan was more challenging than running on my own, and got me a out of my comfort zone - which I never even realized I had, considering running has been anathema to me from a very young age. I'm looking forward to running with him again...

Homework for next week, lengthen my stride.

January 10th, 2007 - Thursday - 12:25pm - 26 minutes - 45 degrees - sports bra, tank top, small blue hoodie, A hat, A gloves, fleece sweat pants

Today is a beautiful day.

Figured out that it's good to start out my run wondering if I should go back and get another layer. It endsu up being exactly enough by the end of the run. Doubled over with cramps/trots/spasms/menstrual onset/god knows what about 10 minutes into the run. My legs and lungs felt fine, but I didn't know if I was going to be sick, or in which direction. Tried to do a compensatory slow trot in that position, but eventually had to veer off road and find a secluded spot to see what was going on. Didn't want to stop, but couldn't go on not knowing if I was about to lose my dignity in the middle of Prospect Park. Didn't know if I should go home Stopped, stretched, squatted, and took stock. I started again at the slowest pace possible, had to walk for a little bit, and then got back to running.

Recovery Shocker: By 15 minutes in, I was feeling great. What felt like a serious event that threatened my session was dealt with in less than 5 minutes.

The last ten minutes of the run felt fabulous. When I got tired and wanted to slow down, I used my trick of choosing on a point in the distance and telling myself that I could slow down once I got there. Then, I focused on a point far past the spot I'd chosen. By the time I reached my rest spot, I was running strong and still focused on the more distant point. Often, that point just so happens to coincide with the end of my run. It surprises me everytime how well that works. I'm fascinated by the mental aspect of this training.

Fruit: I ate an orange a little before running today. The last time this gut thing happened, I had a banana right before the run. Methinks I see a pattern here....

Made whole wheat angel hair pasta last night until 3:30am. Was so much fun, and will be great for dinner tonight with Christopher and Rachel. Planning a marathon pasta party on the 27th with Rafe's girlfriend, who's run the New York Marathon, my downstairs neighbor - Seth, my friend Mandy, You and Jackye, and my roomies. A couple of friends from the neighbor hood too. Good times.

NB - Scratch that. It was menstrual. Oranges had nothing to do with it. A week's worth of twinges in a 5 minute stretch. Go fig.

January 9th, 2007 - Wednesday -
12:45pm -
26 minutes -
55 degrees -
tank top, hoodie, medium weight pants, sports bra

Good run. Got a massage in the evening.

January 7th, 2008
Ran: 4:30pm
Wore: sports bra, tee shirt, light cotton pants
Temp: 62 degrees, real feel 64 degrees

"We hate these people."
ROBERT TUTUNY, of Kenya’s Kalenjin tribe, on the violence that is forcing the exodus of the Kikuyus, the tribe of Kenya’s president, from the western part of the country.

Hmph....what the hell's going on with the Kalenjin? This quote makes it into the JuggerLog, because 12 of the top 20 marathon runners in the world are from the Kalenjin tribe of Kenya. Right now, it seems they're taking a break from distance training to massacre Kikuyus over land rights and what looks like a rigged election. The conflict seems to have been brewing since Kenya's independence in 1963. Let's hope that, after sifting through the bones of the 50 women and children burned alive as they hid in a church for, the Kalenjins can get their minds right and get back to running.

Nevermind. Looks like the Kikuyus are killing them back. A Kalenjin Olympic runner has already been murdered in this chaos.

Never in my life did I think that politics and world issues would make me think about sports.

- I dedicated my run today to the people of Kenya - from all tribes. Whenever I felt a little tired, I thought about the recent world champion who barely survived a machete attack, and I thought, "If your life depended on it, you wouldn't stop,now would you?" Then it was easy to keep running. I dedicated the footfalls and the smell of donated post-Christmas pine trees and the people playing with their babies and their dogs in the park. I marveled at the accustomed peace of living in America, and I was thankful for my luck. I wrote some other things in my notebook about this, but it's 2am, and I'm tired. I'll write more tomorrow, or I won't. All is well, and it's been a full day.

And I ran for 25 MINUTES without stopping today. I really can't believe it. I am a runner now. I have arrived.

Finally, Seth, my downstairs neighbor wants to run the marathon too. Crazy talk. He did a half-marathon in August, so he'll have a lot to offer. Plus, he seems like a fun guy...

January 5, 2008 - Saturday
Ran at 1:20pm - 20 minute run - 38 degrees - real feel 45 degrees - wore: ankle socks, knit pants, tank w/built-in bra, long sleeved shirt, gloves, hat

Wore way less today, and felt fine. Single layer of bottoms, and a scant double layer on top. Started a little cool, but warmed up nicely after telling myself at the beginning that this was nothing. It's nice knowing I've handled worse.

Now the running part is another story. Now I understand why marathon trainer guy says not to run three days in a row. My legs are tired! I would have never expected it, but my thighs are sore, and running today was hard. I had to stop periodically to get my mind and my body right. That goes to show me that my recovery time after weight training is no indicator of my recovery time after cardio. This is what it's like to go from being a highly conditioned movement athlete to being a cardio novice. I look forward to complete rest tomorrow, because my mess is seriously fatigued.

I love Prospect Park. It's what parks should be like. Beutiful and true to the community without being crowded. It was great to run out there on a Saturday and look at all the people playing soccer and walking their dogs. I feel so lucky to have this environment as my back yard...

My Goal for being able to run for 30 minutes without stopping is: January 20th, and I will be making that deadline. It means more rest and recovery, more focus, and better nutrition. It also means appreciating the mental challenge of doing repetitive movement. There are so many challenges for me in this process. I feel like I chase a new challenge each time I go out. I realized today that these traiings will never become easy - each workout gets me to the point where I'm just barely capable of completing the next stage of training.

That's fine with me. If I can get to the point where I'm comfortable with that feeling, I think I will be fine, or better than fine - because that's likely what the actual marathon will feel like. Next session, though, I start out telling myself that I will keep running no matter what. That's important.

Seems I'm falling asleep sitting up, so off to get some caffeination before I start to napping on my naps.

I have a script deadline of March 1st - rough draft. Time to get crackin'!

Peace.

January 4, 2008 - Friday
Started entry at 5:00pm - ran at 5:45 pm - 24 minute run - 35 degrees - wore thigh socks, fleece pants, sports bra, tank top, long sleeve top, hoodie, pink monogrammed gloves and hat
http://www.competitiverunner.com/winterruns.php - my go to site for how to dress for winter running.

Right this second, I don't want to run, but I have to remember that -
1. 20 minutes from now, I'll be finished.
2. At the beginning, it will suck, but by the end, I won't want to stop.
3. I will be so freakin' proud of myself after I'm done that it will be completely worth it.
4. It's 35 degrees out - a full 14 degrees warmer than when I ran yesterday.
5. Yeah, it's already dark out, but that means no sun damage for me today.
6. I just bought a pasta machine, so I definitely need to get my run on.


POST-RUN:
DID IT!!! Man, I was not in the mood, but feel so good that I did it. Not my best run, lots of stops and start. More of a run/sit - ran to the movie theater and back. Had to keep reminding myself that this moment leads to another moment, and that the next moment would be easier and better because of my efforts in this one. As usual, I felt much more energized near the end. I think it's more the 20 minute warm-up rule than anyhthing else. Not sure. have to make sure to feed and hydrate myself better in the coming months. Also, getting better at not over-dressing for my runs. This time, I only wore one pair of socks, two layers on my legs, and less on my torso. I was also more comfortable with being coldish at the beginning of the run. As a Negro, I'm leary of the suggestions of white folks on dressing warmly for the winter. They just like the cold too much.

Also, my left thigh was talking to me a little bit during the run. Now that I've cooled down, both quads are being quite verbal. Interesting...

PS - seems I've been editing my schedule on my computer, but not online. Will rectify anon. But first, I've got a script deadline for March. Better get crackin'.

January 3, 2008 - Thursday - Happy New Year!!!
4:00 pm - 20 minute run - 21 degrees(wind chill 7 degrees) - wore thigh socks, leggings, fleece pants over that, two more pairs of thin socks, sports bra, Sugoi cling hoodie, long sleeved shirt over it, hat, a hoodie on top of that

Today was my second 20 minute run - much harder than the first - possibly due to the fact that it was colder than a witch's tit in a brass bra. My body felt fine. Even without a lot of specialized clothing, I've got this layering thing down pat. The thing that got to me was my face. By the end of the run, it was burning with the cold. I never thought I would utter this sentence, but - I need a balaclava.

The run itself felt much harder than my first 20 min., but I think that had to do with my choice of scenery. I took the outside paved loop of the park, instead of crossing back and forth along the interior paths, which is a much more scenic experience. I couldn't distract myself as much in that context. I also couldn't get away from the fact that nearly every person on planet earth runs faster than me. It started to get kind of funny.

I was definitely experiencing some fatigue in my legs early on, and I'm beginning to think that that's just a phase of exercise that I have to pull through. When I got tired, I willed myself not to stop or walk. In the worst case scenario, I would jog extremely slowly, but I wouldn't walk, and I wouldn't stop. Once I felt better, I would pick up the pace and get a move on. I always have so much energy at the end of the session. I'm going to experiment with different snacks, etc. pre-run. I also wonder if it's too early for ice baths...

I can't believe that, less than 4 weeks from now, I'll be running 5 miles! What? I should sign up for a 5K. I guarantee it'll be an extremely slow 5K, but I'm still running it.

Have to run tomorrow, because I missed my Wednesday run due to a deadline. That means going three days in a row, but I think it will be ok. Sunday will be a complete rest day, and besides, Dean Karnazes says I can run up to six days a week. There's nothing like referring to a complete freak of nature for a handy second opinion.