Monday Is Run Day Again

Dear Friends,

Monday is run day again. After too long of a layoff I was back out there tonight. Running never really left me, I just left running. It was still an interest, a hobby that I just didn't take time for, but she was there to take me back tonight. But she's a cruel one. She is making me pay for my lack of attention.

I've started back at the very beginning. Back to the first course of my training, and it was about all I could do. The gift I have now is experience. I knew I could make it, because I have in the past. I had good motivation, and followed through. My last run, according to my blog of October 14. It seems so silly that I haven't run since then. My first excuse was the darkness. I didn't like getting up before the sun. Then I had the excuse of the cold. But it really isn't too cold to run most days around here. No what it comes down to is laziness plain and simple. But I'm back, and I'm running. I doubt there are people that look at this, but if you do after all this time. Thanks,

--Ben

Back out on the Trail

Well, over the last two weeks I've had a lot of travel days, unfortunately that translates into no running as I have not yet figured out how to partner the two. But travel is over. So I was back out on the trail this morning running, sweating, breathing, trying to breathe.

I have struggled even since returning home getting back out there, but I came across this quote and used it to push myself...

When The Sun Comes Up!

In Africa Every Morning A Gazelle Awakens
Knowing That It Must Outrun
The Fastest Lion If It Wants To Stay Alive.

Every Morning A Lion Wakes Up Knowing
That It Must Run Faster Than The
Slowest Gazelle Or It Will Starve To Death.

It Makes No Difference Whether You Are A Lion Or A Gazelle:

When The Sun Comes Up You Had Better Be Running.

--Ben

Morning Run

Rain is coming later today, but this morning was a beautiful morning to run. I changed it up a little this morning. Instead of running to the podcast, I chose to listen to a thirty minute sermon. I know most people would find any reason to avoid a sermon, but I found it a nice occupation of my mind. I ran based on distances I'm familiar with and really enjoyed it.

My diet is improving. More protien, less Carbs, less sweets. I've also picked up the number of days I run, at least I am on track to run four days this week.

--Ben

Tuesday

My running schedule so far has been M/W/F. The program I'm using said you should take a day off in between to recover, but I know a lot of people that run 5 days a week or more. So I'm going to start picking up more days of running. Especially since I've fallen so far behind where I want to be.

This morning I ran the Course 4 run, but pulled up short, so I pulled out the podcast for Course 4, skipped through half, and ran the second half of Course 3. At least I didn't waste time walking all the way back. I have trouble when I get in that situation because I tend to talk myself out of running at all on the way back. I tell myself "no point in running if you can measure how far you've run." Ridiculous I know but...

This whole running thing is putting a lot of perspective on the mastery of Body, Mind, Soul and Spirit. There definately seems to me multiple mes out there. Not in a dissociative disorder kind of way, just my body and mind going at it.

--Ben

Long Time No Run

This morning I got back on the trail after a week off. Last week I was traveling, but my schedule precluded me from running. That preculsion led to a horrible first day back today. Not good.

But I'm back, and happy to be working out. Prior to my trip I had run a successful week.

This week, I'm working to break through a barrier that I believe is tied to my weight. I think that in order to break through to the next course I'm going to have to lose some weight. So I'm incorporating Exercise's cousin Diet. Watching what I eat and looking forward to shaving off some weight. Maybe a lighter me will be a longer me out on the trail.

--Ben

Monday, Monday So Good To Me

I was out there again this morning. I haven't made the progress I had hoped, but I am still working at it.

BTW, I ran on Saturday too. It was me against the Tropical Storm, Hanna, and Hanna won. I think the 94+% humidity did me in early. But I was out there.

Today I ran 14 out of 30 minutes. That's steady with what I did last week. I did 3min/90sec, 5min/2.5min, 2 min,2.5 min, 4min/cool down. For those who pay attention that's the first 5 minute leg I've done in 5 weeks. (5 weeks ago I ran one 5 minute run, and it killed me and set me back till now.) This time I did the 5 minute run, and squeezed a 4 minute run to end that's the first time for that. Yay!!!!

On the trail...

The biggest thing was a mental hurdle that I got over. There is this crosswalk painted on the trail but it is obsolete because of construction. It serves no purpose, it is just white paint. For the last couple weeks I have used that as a finish line. Over the last three runs, I have tried to push myself further to another landmark, but each time I get to the crosswalk, I breakdown mentally and give up. Today I didn't. I made it all the way to the finish line I've been pushing for for a while. I was really excited about that.

--Ben

Wednesday

It's hump day, and I got over the hump this morning. It was a later run than ussualy by about an hour, but I got out there.

You know running makes you go to bed earlier, and when you want to stay up late, it kicks your butt the next morning and says, "You idiot, I've taught you better than this."

Running starts chanting in my brain early in the morning, " I want some time with you." And I know she'll hold a grudge if she doesn't get the attention she wants. So I roll out of bed bleary eyed thinking, "If I just get to the trail, there will be no excuses." My joints and muscles are sore, they tell me to end this extortion. But, by the time I get ready and out to the trail, I take my first step onto the asphalt, and suddenly I feel loose. One step at a time is how I run. And now some time to recover. It won't be long though, and she'll start whispering in my ear around 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning.

Today I ran course four again. The course calls for 3min/90sec, 5min/2.5min; repeat. A total of 18 minutes out of thirty. Today I went 3min/90, 3min/4min, 3min/90sec, 4min/cool down. That's a total of 13 out of 18 I'm supposed to run. That's a full minute more than Monday. I want to push to 15 on Friday.

--Ben