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...
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
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!
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.
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:
Wait, I take that back.
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.
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.
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