A Slight Diversion-08/30/2010

Two things happened last week which caused me to pause and consider where I am in my life. First, one of the other coaches "tagged" a picture of me on Facebook, that was nice. But then in less than an hour I get a message that I should "like" Copeland Cosmetic Surgery Center. A few days later on Saturday at about mile 12 one of the runners that I am coaching exclaimed: "You're old enough to be my father!"

I know these two innocuous events were not meant to be ill spirited by any stretch of the imagination. They did however; cause a degree of consternation on my part. Consternation that in just a few hours turned into reflection which brings us to my post for today.

"To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am"- Bernard Baruch

That sums up the way I have felt for a long time now. So why the consternation, well, I always like to begin with what I know or at least what I THINK that I know.

• I know that I have lived for 62 years.
• I know that those lovely young ladies are in their early thirties, they are in fact actually a bit young to be my children.
• I know that my skin is not as supple or smooth as it was three decades ago.
• I know that parts of me will sag and droop, that hair will grow in places unwanted, yet not grow on my head.
• I know that I will never have a hard, chiseled body and that having one would actually be a bit freaky. (TME)
  
• I know that certain sound pitches will no longer be heard.
• I know that I will never run 400 yards in 61 seconds like that damn 18 year old at the track.
• I know that I will never be able to turn back the hands of time but I also know that aging is better than the alternative.
  

But I also know and believe:

• I know that I have survived two fights with cancer, multiple surgeries and a detached retina which by all odds should have left me blind in one eye. "Old age ain't no place for sissies."- Henry Louis Menchen
• I believe that older men can be better lovers, just not as often.
• I believe that older men can be better husbands and friends.
• I know that "The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left." - Jerry Wright.
• I have learned to appreciate silence and that every moment does not have to be filled with talking or music or just noise. That those hours spent driving in silence doesn't diminish the love I Susan and I have for one another.
• I know that I am coaching a wonderful group of young runners. Coaching, not from the sidelines, but by leading them over those long miles knowing that every step it is my responsibility to be the strongest runner.
• I believe that age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind.
• I know that I have a goal to run a marathon with my grandchildren when I will be 77 years old.
• I believe that with the Grace of God I will attain that goal.
• I believe that Douglass MacArthur was correct when he said: "Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."

For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars invisible by day.

---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "Morituri Salutamus" 1875

"Age should not have its face lifted, but it should rather teach the world to admire wrinkles as the etching of experience and the firm line of character." - Anonymous

I know that I am not fighting aging, I embrace its inevitability, I just want to do it well.

Damn I feel better, I'm going for a run!!
RunGrampyRun

QualifyGrampyQualify-Part XII-08/29/2010

I must say that I have never felt better [knock wood]! This recent break in the heat, of course, has helped tremendously. That said, I also know that I am in better condition than I have ever been. Increasing my caloric intake is an important key as the miles increase. I am now watching the scale to make sure my weight holds steady.

I am very pleased with my progress. I cannot attempt a qualification at Lewis & Clark in October As a coach I will run with my team at their target pace. Because of this I am considering looking for another fall/spring marathon for my first attempt to qualify for Boston. It would be great to get it done so that I can, hopefully get registered for 2012. Waiting until fall of 2011 will mean that I likely that Boston will be filled and I won't get registered until Boston 2013, something that I really didn't take into account when formulating my goals.

Last Saturday's 17 mile run included a significant hill. The hill repeats I did last Tuesday served me well. I was able to stride up the hill at a good pace with virtually no "huffing and puffing" :)) My training group did an excellent job, keeping right on pace with me. We finished our run at an 10:24 ave pace, just 6 seconds faster than long run goal pace.

Mileage is beginning to add up. This week I will add a fifth day with a short 5 miler for a total of 49 miles this week. That will put me at 784 miles for the year.

This week's speed-work is 1 very simple mile, all out, going at MAX. My goal is to break a 7 minute mile. To make sure my legs are fresh rather than run to the track I will drive, run 1 warm up mile then run the timed mile. I'll finish my 8 miles for the day by doing an "out and back" from the track.

I'll report the results later this week, until then...
RunGrampyRun

QualifyGrampyQualify-Part XI-08/25/2010

Another week has passed and training is going well. All of our long runs are now in excess of half marathon distance. Last Saturday we were at Queeny Park, a beautiful run through meadow and woods. We started our first 4 mile loop with the sun coming up through hazy clouds and mist, pretty enough to stop to take a picture then catch up with the group. The night before the run we had thunderstorms and we were all hoping that the heat would be broken or even better that we could run in the rain. Alas, no such luck, it was hot and humid. That in combination with the hills made for a challenging run. We did a good job controlling the pace conserving energy for the full 14 miles.

After a rest day sunday, I was scheduled to run 8 miles on Monday. As I approached the turning point I decided to go out an extra mile, adding 2 to the run. The workout on Saturday combined with cooler temps (sub-90) made for a great run averaging 9:20 per mile. Now all Ineed is to be able to do that 2-1/2 times in a row AND trim 20 seconds per mile AND do that on a race day and I will meet my qualification goal.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I did a hill repeat workout. I found a hill that is 2/10 of a mile long, has an overall grade of 9% but the top 1/3 is over 15% :((. My goal was to run the hill 6 times and that was tough. After the 6th time, to build mental toughness I went back down and came up a 7th time, at the top I thought I would walk/stagger/jog the mile back home. However, when it came time to turn left, I turned right adding 3 miles to the total. Those first few steps running away from the house were challenging but soon I was back in the groove and felt great. Total was 5 miles at an average pace of 10:20 including the hill mileage. I could not have felt better (mentally) after the run!!!

Until next week,

RunGrampyRun

QualifyGrampyQualify Part X - 08/13/2010

WOW it's hard to believe, Monday August 16, 2010 was my 62nd birthday! I simply cannot conceive of myself as being 62 years old! So, please allow an old fart a bit of reflection.

Over 38 years ago I met and married Susan. Thank goodness because I likely wouldn't be in my present state of good health otherwise. Over 25 years ago a blood test showed my cholesterol was above the normal range. For that entire time Susan has helped me, encouraged me and yes sometimes lovingly nagged me to eat a healthy diet. While I am still "borderline" high I am certainly not in excess danger.

Also over the past 20 years I have had some medical challenges, from 5 years of testing every 6 months to try to find why my PSA levels were increasing, to surgery for a detached retina to prostate cancer surgery [actually 3 surgeries, one to actually find the cancer, one to remove the prostate and one to repair some damage]. Then came a re-occurrence of my cancer 10 years later and 39 radiation treatments to hopefully wipe it out for good. Then in 2008 another surgery meant to implant a device to correct some damage from the radiation, that surgery went wrong and I got a terrible infection requiring another surgery to ex plant the device. Left on my own devices I may well have not followed up so carefully and my prognosis would certainly not have been as hopeful as they are today. Thank you Susan!

These medical challenges did serve to make me focus on my health and that is when I began running. Beginning is one thing but continuing us another. Having an ongoing challenge is important to me and that brings us to QualifyGrampyQualify Part X:

Here is an update:

Last week I momentarily hit my goal weight, that was due to the 100 + heat index :))

Several weeks ago I actually put that goal on hold for the remainder of this marathon training season. At this point in our training every Saturday run is in excess of a half marathon. Mid week training is climbing also to 25+, for a total exceeding 40 miles and increasing. At this mileage there is NO reasonable amount of calorie reduction that anyone should be doing. My goal will be to eat enough (of the right stuff) to hold my weight. I need to make sure that I am eating smaller meals 4-6 times a day.

At 3 months into my 22 month journey, where do I stand?

Weight: Goal 155, current 160 (fully hydrated)

Mileage: 660 miles since January 1

Hours running: 47 Hours 38 Minutes in past 3 months (probably over 100 since January 1)

Sports Drink: about 9+ gallons

Energy Gels: about 30+

Shoes: On 2nd pair

Have Susan ask if I am crazy: Estimated 1 time, actual 10+ with more to come

Wonder if I AM crazy: Estimated 1 time, actual 2, with more to come

Falls: I didn't even consider this category, currently 2, hoping to stop there

Saturday my training team and I did a 16 mile run in our lovely high heat and humidity. It was a tough run by any standards. One runner did not hydrate properly and ended up in the ER. 2 others suffered heat illness but recovered without taking a side trip with lights & sirens. Most non-runners think we are reallllllllly crazy to be running in this heat. However, it is like many things, if one properly prepares and properly executes a good plan, the goal can be accomplished. I completed the run and while the last couple of miles certainly will not go down as my most favorite I finished without incident. A nap after getting home and eating and I actually did a bit of work in the yard. We then went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday.

I have fully recovered from my fall and no longer have doubts about my goal. I know this is a challenge that I want to continue, after all I promised Sally (if she wants to be a marathoner) that I would run the Chicago Marathon with her when she is 18. That is the year 2025 and I will be 77 years old.

Until next time.

Eric

aka RunGrampyRun

QualifyGrampyQualify Part IX - 08/06/2010

Yesterday I shared with you the questions that Coach Kristen and Wife Susan posed to me:

Kristen asked: "So what motivates you?
Don't take this question lightly, as the answer may be the one thing that sets you apart from the non-runners in your life and keeps you moving, one step at a time, towards one great big goal."

And Susan's questions were: "Why do you run in this heat?" and "Why do you have to run so far?"

My immediate response was that I honestly did't know. And had I really thought of that when I set my goal of qualifying for Boston and all the sub-goals attached to that. I wasn't really sure how to answer either question.

Those questions could not have come at a better time. My little 'incident' on Tuesday evening managed to shake me up a bit and filled my aching head with my own questions. Questions like: "Aren't you too old to be doing this?" or "Do I really need to go to these extremes, wouldn't running a couple of miles a day do just fine?" or "Am I really "freakn' crazy?", as some of my non-running friends have suggested?"

Fortunately, as the various pains began to subside from my head-first dive into the sidewalk so also have my doubts begun to subside:

I run, not because of what is called the "runner's high", personally I don't believe that I have ever experienced it. I only begin to feel good, after the run. As they say, it feels so good when the pain stops.

I run to stay in shape and to hopefully manage to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle as my years advance. As I was showering the morning after my fall, thoughts of quiting entered my mind. Suddenly visions of my siblings came to mind. I am the only one within 20 pounds of a healthy weight. My younger brother has diabetes my my older brother has had 6 heart attacks. I know that if it wasn't for Susan's help and encouragement in maintaining a healthy diet and regular doctor visits that I would not nearly in as good a condition as I am. Oh sure, I have had health challenges, cancer surgery then 10 years later radiation treatments for re-occurrence. A couple of bouts of bronchitis, post surgery infection yeah yeah yeah ... those only served to motivate me.

None of this explains why I do distance running. Heck, I could run 4 or 5 miles several times a week and probably maintain my health just as well. Frankly, 5k even 10k runs bore me. At this stage I am simply not motivated to run shorter distances. There is only one short run each year that I look forward to and find challenging. Every October I run the Chesterfield Pumpkin Run 5k, it is my "speed" race. I try to run absolutely as fast as I can with the goal of winning my age group (so far 2nd is my best finish).

While it seems like "everyone" is running marathons these days ... that is not the case. It is still an exclusive club. There just aren't that many people who are willing to spend the time, effort and energy to train for and complete 26.2 miles. When our training group is running and we pass or meet a half marathon group we often hear whispered: "Those are the marathoners!" I find this challenging and motivating and that keeps me interested and excited about running every day that a run is on the calendar.

My Boston goal is the same, a great challenge for me to run faster than I ever have for each and every mile of the 26.2. Accomplishing that goal admits me to an even more exclusive club, that of "Boston Qualifier".

My LONG term goal of running Chicago in 2025 with my granddaughter Sally (Yes, only if she wants to be a marathoner) was envisioned only one week after finding out that my cancer had returned. It is my way of saying to Sally and now to Tommy that they are so important to me that I want to do everything I can to be a healthy and active Grampy.

I'm confident that as the years pass I'll set other running goals. How about "ULTRAGRAMPY" or "IRONGRAMPY", talk about freakn' crazy! SHHHH don't mention that to Susan!

So Kristen, what is going up on my mirror? Two simple words: "HEALTH and FAMILY"

Thank you both.

Until next week,
Eric
aka RunGrampyRun