I Run

I figure I'll use the Pfitzinger 18 week/55 mile plan again unless my body tells me to try something else. I wasn't able to complete the mileage in the first week (last week) since I was dealing with my dad in the hospital. But I think I'll be able to sort it out this week. I did about 10 on Tuesday, and 10 yesterday (in a snowstorm). My legs feel a bit leaden and sore, but I think they'll respond once I have a couple of weeks of consistent training under my belt. The new gloves and socks I got for Christmas should keep my fingers and toes warm enough during the next couple of months. Though the weather has been pretty mild recently: I ran in shorts on Tuesday!

When I run I'm constantly solving problems, making adjustments to deal with the issue at hand, whether it's a particularly nasty hill, an aggressive dog, or inclement weather. A typical 13 mile run around the block is not just an exercise in physical endurance: it challenges my mental faculties as well. And there's a synchronicity between the decisions and solutions I develop on my runs and the issues I need to solve in other aspects of my life. I start to breathe hard going up the other side of Sweet Pond Rd. After six miles, my legs are getting a bit tired. I change my stride and take smaller, quicker steps. I consciously adjust my breathing and will the oxygen to flow to my legs. At my desk I stare at a large section of code on the screen, and my mind flounders. Why is the application not doing what I expect? I breathe deeply for a few minutes, then patiently I step through the code, logging details, testing until I discover the root of the problem. Back on the road, it starts to rain. I'm not wearing a hat, and it's cold. I pick up the pace a bit to keep myself warm; I weave under the branches of hemlocks and pines to get brief periods of shelter. My mind distracts me as I think about my dad. His cancer has recurred and spread, and he requires more care. So I work from home to be with him. I adjust my schedule to make sure he gets what he needs: trips to the hospital, prescriptions, his morning coffee and meals. And when he sleeps I go out for a run, a little bit of shelter outside. Looking skyward, I let the rain hit my face as my feet kick up slush and mud. I look straight ahead and pick up the pace. The rain will stop.

Ugh...I don't like this "in between" time, especially at this time of the year. I'm not officially training, but I need to keep up a good base. The days are windy and cold, so I have to dress more. There is less daylight, so if I don't get out by 2:30 or 3:00, I'll be running in the dark. And I think I have some Nordic gene that makes me want to eat just rich, salty foods and stay indoors until the days start to get longer. But my body rebels against a diet like that - my blood pressure gets higher and I tire more quickly - so it's fruits, veggies, nuts, and fish for me for as long as I can stand it. Once I officially start training for Boston, though, things should get easier. The days will be getting longer, the holidays will be over, and I won't be tempted by all the seasonal goodies. Right now the sky is overcast, a major winter storm is brewing, and the temperature is 18F. Normal people are reading the Sunday paper, drinking coffee and eating cinnamon rolls, and enjoying a day of toasty indoor relaxation. I'm a runner (way beyond normal), so I'll be heading out the door in a bit to pound out a 10 to 13 miler. I didn't wash my Under Armour, so I'll stink too. And here's the funny part: despite the somewhat gloomy, semi-complaining tone of what I just wrote, part of me is looking forward to getting out there. The other part still thinks I'm crazy.