Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hills in the Hood
What better to do than to run hills on St. Patrick’s Day? Wednesday’s are always early mornings in our house, up at 4:00 so Tim can be on the road for his 2 ½ hour commute. I used to slip back into bed and pretend I could run later, but not anymore. Now, I drink a cup of coffee, maybe a piece of toast and head out the door as he gets in his car.
It was a fun and challenging run through the “hood” - neighbor that is. My neighborhood in Eugene is somewhat like a roller coaster if you want it to be and this morning, I sought out as many hills as I could find. Buddy and Lilly joined me for a 2 mile flat warm up. We headed up a small hill on the last ½ mile, but I could see Lilly dragging a bit so we headed for home. She had such a good run this past weekend on the McKenzie trail, but I guess her dogs were still recovering. Old coot, she never let’s up.
So after I dropped the dogs in the backyard, I headed out again, up Lincoln St. hill, down the backside, down 24th for reprieve and then up on 22nd. It felt good not to have a destination or a loop in mind. When I was ready for another hill, I went for it, actually seeking out the steepest one I could find. None of them were as long or as steep as on the trails, but it felt good to do fast surges and short recoveries. Almost like a hilly speed workout.
It was a fun and challenging run through the “hood” - neighbor that is. My neighborhood in Eugene is somewhat like a roller coaster if you want it to be and this morning, I sought out as many hills as I could find. Buddy and Lilly joined me for a 2 mile flat warm up. We headed up a small hill on the last ½ mile, but I could see Lilly dragging a bit so we headed for home. She had such a good run this past weekend on the McKenzie trail, but I guess her dogs were still recovering. Old coot, she never let’s up.
So after I dropped the dogs in the backyard, I headed out again, up Lincoln St. hill, down the backside, down 24th for reprieve and then up on 22nd. It felt good not to have a destination or a loop in mind. When I was ready for another hill, I went for it, actually seeking out the steepest one I could find. None of them were as long or as steep as on the trails, but it felt good to do fast surges and short recoveries. Almost like a hilly speed workout.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sleepy Monday Morning
Slept in and loved every minute of it. Probably from the all night run on Friday and then 10m on Sunday. In the back of my mind, I tell myself I should be running more especially when I look at some peoples running logs online. I’m amazed at the distance some runners cover. But, I’m not sure I’m that kind of runner. My life gets in the way and also my love of running. More is not always better for me. When my focus turns to numbers, I start to question why I’m doing this. I love running long. I love to run as fast as I can and feel my lungs screaming for air. There’s nothing like the burning in my quads and being at the top of a mountain knowing I just accomplished that at first I might have had had doubts about.
When I push the numbers, I get sometimes get muddled in why I'm running. So I continue to remind myself I'm out there for the beauty, the solitude, to watch my dogs have fun and to be with people I enjoy. I run to solve problems and to clear my head, lose excess energy and to gain it back. I love the way my body feels after a long run tired, maybe a little sore, sweaty, and at the same time energized for whatever challenge comes my way. This is what I want to focus on and to keep me running.
When I push the numbers, I get sometimes get muddled in why I'm running. So I continue to remind myself I'm out there for the beauty, the solitude, to watch my dogs have fun and to be with people I enjoy. I run to solve problems and to clear my head, lose excess energy and to gain it back. I love the way my body feels after a long run tired, maybe a little sore, sweaty, and at the same time energized for whatever challenge comes my way. This is what I want to focus on and to keep me running.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Perfect Day
A perfect day is not only having everything fall into place, it's the ability to notice all of the wonderful things happening as they happen.
The day started a little later than normal. Tim, Rory and I waking up at 8:30. I had planned on heading out the door at 5:00 to get my long run in before the family woke up, but I'm still not feeling 100% from this flu bug, and sleeping in sounded a lot better. It's been 2 weeks since I first started hacking, and although I feel so much better, I still have fits of coughing that would put smokers to shame.
During breakfast and morning coffee, it was obvious the day was going to be gorgeous. The sun was shiny, no clouds in the sky - not a typical Eugene day especially this time of year. One thing I've learned after living here for the past 2 years is seize the day means seize the sunshine! So we all decided we need to be outside. After some discussion, we decided to go up to the McKenzie River. Rory had never been there, Tim and I loved running that trail and it would be easy enough for us to split up and for each of us to get the miles we needed. Best of all, the dogs could run free without leashes and hopefully there wouldn't be too many people sharing the trail.
A little selfish I know, but one of the things I miss the most about Klamath Falls. In Klamath, I was spoiled in having most of the trails to myself. Running for hours without seeing anyone. Just me and Lilly (Buddy wasn't in the family yet) running in the mountains.
So we loaded up the truck, a mountain bike for Rory, and running shoes for Tim and I. Enough Gu and bars to feed the three of us and an optimistic spirit. It took about an hour to get to the trail head, and on the way we spied Ike's Pizza and made a promise to eat there after our adventure.
Rory had never mountain biked before, but he is quite an athlete so as long as he seemed motivated, Tim and I thought we'd keep going. When we started unloading the gear, Buddy was in his impatient mode, whining and yipping trying to tell us we were taking too long. The first part of any run is always more energetic, especially with Buddy. Here he practices his best herding techniques. Today it was running between Rory on the bike in the lead, back to me and Tim and then nipping Lilly on the neck on his way to Rory. He kept this behavior up until we got to the 4mile turnaround for Rory and Tim.
Being back on the McKenzie again brought back memories of the McKenzie River 50k I'd run in September 09. Today I ran in the opposite direction for the first part of the run, running through the finish line and the place in the river where I sat to ice my legs. It wasn't the best race for me (time wise - no PR), but the trail is one of my favorites.
Rory proved to be a natural, slow and steady on the uphills and racing down the backside. There were even a couple of places where he hit loose dirt and tumbled off, but what a trooper! 3 miles into our trek he said he was losing steam, so I introduced him to Gu. Although he was able to suck it down and said it did seem to give him more energy, he definitely like the Luna Bar at mile 7 a lot better.
After we split up, Tim and Rory headed back to the truck to pack up and head to the store for some drinks and popcorn to hold them over until I was done. Buddy and I continued on the trail and turned around at mile 8. When we got back to the truck, Rory and saved popcorn for Buddy and had a cold drink for me. He sat by the river ice I sat in it and shared stories about his mountain bike adventure. It sounded like after he and Tim turned around, he raced so fast back to the truck, Tim lost sight of him. So much for being tired. Next time he'll have to go longer.
Ike's Pizza turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Great pizza for a post run meal. The crust was a little doughier than I like most of the time, but after 16m, it was perfect. As we were leaving we spied orders of roasted chicken and jo-jo's coming out of the kitchen and vowed we'd have to try it next time.
The day started a little later than normal. Tim, Rory and I waking up at 8:30. I had planned on heading out the door at 5:00 to get my long run in before the family woke up, but I'm still not feeling 100% from this flu bug, and sleeping in sounded a lot better. It's been 2 weeks since I first started hacking, and although I feel so much better, I still have fits of coughing that would put smokers to shame.
During breakfast and morning coffee, it was obvious the day was going to be gorgeous. The sun was shiny, no clouds in the sky - not a typical Eugene day especially this time of year. One thing I've learned after living here for the past 2 years is seize the day means seize the sunshine! So we all decided we need to be outside. After some discussion, we decided to go up to the McKenzie River. Rory had never been there, Tim and I loved running that trail and it would be easy enough for us to split up and for each of us to get the miles we needed. Best of all, the dogs could run free without leashes and hopefully there wouldn't be too many people sharing the trail.
A little selfish I know, but one of the things I miss the most about Klamath Falls. In Klamath, I was spoiled in having most of the trails to myself. Running for hours without seeing anyone. Just me and Lilly (Buddy wasn't in the family yet) running in the mountains.
So we loaded up the truck, a mountain bike for Rory, and running shoes for Tim and I. Enough Gu and bars to feed the three of us and an optimistic spirit. It took about an hour to get to the trail head, and on the way we spied Ike's Pizza and made a promise to eat there after our adventure.
Rory had never mountain biked before, but he is quite an athlete so as long as he seemed motivated, Tim and I thought we'd keep going. When we started unloading the gear, Buddy was in his impatient mode, whining and yipping trying to tell us we were taking too long. The first part of any run is always more energetic, especially with Buddy. Here he practices his best herding techniques. Today it was running between Rory on the bike in the lead, back to me and Tim and then nipping Lilly on the neck on his way to Rory. He kept this behavior up until we got to the 4mile turnaround for Rory and Tim.
Being back on the McKenzie again brought back memories of the McKenzie River 50k I'd run in September 09. Today I ran in the opposite direction for the first part of the run, running through the finish line and the place in the river where I sat to ice my legs. It wasn't the best race for me (time wise - no PR), but the trail is one of my favorites.
Rory proved to be a natural, slow and steady on the uphills and racing down the backside. There were even a couple of places where he hit loose dirt and tumbled off, but what a trooper! 3 miles into our trek he said he was losing steam, so I introduced him to Gu. Although he was able to suck it down and said it did seem to give him more energy, he definitely like the Luna Bar at mile 7 a lot better.
After we split up, Tim and Rory headed back to the truck to pack up and head to the store for some drinks and popcorn to hold them over until I was done. Buddy and I continued on the trail and turned around at mile 8. When we got back to the truck, Rory and saved popcorn for Buddy and had a cold drink for me. He sat by the river ice I sat in it and shared stories about his mountain bike adventure. It sounded like after he and Tim turned around, he raced so fast back to the truck, Tim lost sight of him. So much for being tired. Next time he'll have to go longer.
Ike's Pizza turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Great pizza for a post run meal. The crust was a little doughier than I like most of the time, but after 16m, it was perfect. As we were leaving we spied orders of roasted chicken and jo-jo's coming out of the kitchen and vowed we'd have to try it next time.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My own private exorcism
5:30am and I'm back from my run. If you can say running to the end of the block a run? By the time I got to the corner, I had coughed (no ordinary cough) 6 times doubled over, lungs squeezing together to find a pocket of air. I think what I'm getting the most of from my illness is isometric exercises for my mid-section. My abs are tight, a six pack forming and my lats although no pull downs have happened lately, are toned and ready for action.
When the cough is in progress, my body contracts, usually by bending in half while I try to catch my breath to help move the next one on it's way. My hand goes to my throat trying to stop the tearing feeling from the air being forced through my windpipe. It's an exorcist of sorts trying to rid the mucus out of my lungs. So far I have not seen a projectile loogie, but it wouldn't surprise me after this past week.
I have been coughing for 7 days now. 5 of them were in the privacy of my own home, but now that I'm venturing out I find myself having to cough in front of people. Not because I choose to, but I never know when a "spell" is going to come on. I thought they happened mostly when I moved to quickly, so I slowed down. Shuffling feet, reaching, bending sloooowly. But then it came, and the cism was just has hard and drawn out as any other so no more slow mo. So this morning I thought I'd try running again, but I guess cool air is a trigger too.
I smoked for one summer during the drives to my hometown from college. I'd leave after midnight and drive the 8 hours home just in time to arrive to see the sunrise in the Mojave. I smoked while driving so I could stay awake. Hated every single cigarette. Gave up the cigarettes and stopped driving home. I mention this because my cough is one that belongs to a lifer. Someone who has smoked morning til night, not someone who is healthy.
Because I'm no longer confined to the privacy of my home, when I walk in public and the need comes over me, I try to position myself in the best location before the cism begins. I try to choose a deserted isle in the grocery store, linger in or around my car, hold my breath until I'm out of the store or as evidenced by my coffee purchase this weekend, make several trips in and out of the public venue so that I do my cism outside and business inside. It's a little disruptive to the flow of a purchase, but I try to be respectful. But even with these precautions I still get a few different responses. Anger: the get away from me/how dare you infect me and my children look. Disdain/Sympathy: the maybe you should've cut down on your 3 pack a day habit. Fear: If I back away slowly and maybe she won't notice.
End of post, a cism is brewing.
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