QualifyGrampyQualify-Part XXIII-03/01/2011- The "A" Word

The "A" Word

When one runs long distances with a team there are many words uttered. The “S” word is said so many times it becomes common. The “P” word likewise. On a particularly difficult hill or running on snow or ice the “F” word is oft uttered. Well, I may have overstated that last one a bit, it actually doesn’t take snow, ice or a hill to illicit the “F” word. Running teams borrow from the Las Vegas motto with a slight modification: “What is said on the run---stays on the run.” My team seems more prone to using these words than some other teams, so much so that I actually named them the “SPF’rs?

There is one word however that all runners avoid. A word that if uttered strikes fear into the heart of a marathoner. It is a word that makes the heart sink. Not just for the runner who is unfortunate enough to say the word, but also to all those around him. Whether be they teammates or strangers the mere mention of the “A” word is enough to send a chill down the spine of any runner within earshot.

Saturday, during our scheduled 17 mile run around beautiful Forest Park and into Clayton I was force to utter the “a” word. Please note “a” not “A”, but more on that in a moment. At mile 9 my knee began to stiffen. At mile 10 we stopped for a quick hydration break so I did some stretches to loosen it up and started off again. At 11 we were stopped by a traffic light, another stretch then at 12 I heard that awful word “abandon”. Not “abandon” as in to run with abandon or to ‘give oneself over unrestrainedly’. No it was “abandon” as in ‘to cease intending or attempting to perform’. I began to limp back to the Visitors Center where my car was parked. I attempted several times to run again, choosing pain over the cold that was penetrating my body since I was no longer generating heat.

I actually swear very little (at least out loud) in my life but I must admit that I ran the full gamut during what I considered to be my two mile “march of shame”. The “S” word, the “P” word and the “F” word fluttered across my tongue at a pace much exceeding the pace of my progress. I hate to abandon a run, especially when I am coaching. I am supposed to be the strongest runner in the group. I am supposed to lead them through thick and thin, to pull them up hills, to set a steady pace, to give them strength and encouragement. How can I possibly do that when I abandon the run?

Also running through my mind was what impact this could have on the balance of my training. Would the past 12 weeks be for naught? Would I be able to lead my team during the marathon to help them reach their goals? What would this mean for my Boston attempt? Yes, I hate to abandon a run.

I am grateful however for several things. I am grateful that Kristen & Brandi have trained me well enough to have the sense to know that it is better to abandon a run than to cause serious or possibly permanent injury. To “Live to run another day.”

Also it was the lower case abandon rather than the upper case “Abandon”. I was fortunate that I was not forced to Abandon a race or a marathon and for that I am grateful. I DO have time to work on my IT band. That pesky tendon was pulling my knee out of alignment and time to resume my training. Whether that means that I will be able to run our scheduled 19 miles next Saturday I don’t know but I know I will be back out there as soon as it is advisable for me to do so.

But S#^@, it just P@%%*^ me off that I couldn’t finish that F#^!*%@ run.

Until next time,

Eric

aka RunGrampyRun

QualifyGrampyQualify-Part XXII-SNOW & PAIN

A week ago we were forecast to have the storm of the century 3-4" of freezing rain and sleet topped with 8-12" of snow. It turned out to be a typical St Louis Shakespearean Forecast....Much Ado About Nothing! We got about 3" of sleet and a couple of inches of snow.

This picture was taken last Saturday almost a week after the scary forecast. This forecast was for 2-3" of snow. We got 4-5"! It wouldn't have been too bad but it was on top of the previous snow/ice which had been walked & run on all week. The new snow served to hide the frozen and uneven surface below making running a challenge at least for those of us who prefer staying vertical!

As you know from my last post I worked my way through a slump and was ready to rock n'roll. Unfortunately a nagging pain in my left foot got worse. It is not a problem while running but after a run I cannot walk on a hard surface without significant pain. As long as I am on carpeting or wearing a shoe I am fine. For the past several weeks the pain would last about 24 hours then be gone until after the next run. Last week I took most of the week off, running only 5 miles but the pain never subsided.

I was concerned that I might have a stress fracture of the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal which is that little bump behind your small toe across from the ball of your foot. An x-ray a couple of weeks ago showed no fracture, but it only about 10 days into the pain which may be too early for a fracture to show. When you have a stress fracture, it is usually recommended that you do not run for 6-8 weeks it allow it to heal. With the marathon 8 weeks away that would mean that I would have to use alternate training methods and would not be able to run with the team until and hopefully on race day. One alternate training method is to wear a floatation belt and "run" in the pool. I did that for a short time in 2005 when I had an IT band issue. I must say pool running is many times more boring than running on a treadmill!

I worked the area of my foot with some release techniques hoping that it was a soft tissue problem. Rolling it on a small roller or ball was very painful and didn't help. Sunday I went back to the basics, Advil and ice. Fortunately, that seems to be helping. I am now hopeful that it is indeed a soft tissue injury and that I can keep it under control. I am planning a full running schedule this week but will compromise by running on a treadmill (softer and less impact) except for our team run on Saturday. Tonight I ran a nice easy 7 miles on the treadmill at just under a 10 minute pace and felt great. The doldrums are gone, my foot is better as I sit here with my foot on an ice pack.

I'll keep you posted!

Until next time,

Eric
aka RunGrampyRun

Qualify Grampy Qualify-Part XXI- DOLDRUMS BEGONE

Last time I promised to finish my discussion of being in the doldrums and how I got out of them and got closer to that 'cheeseburger in paradise'. Before I begin I realize that in any other sport it would have been simply called a slump, but as I have mentioned we endurance runners are a bit wacko so of course I had to go with "Doldrums", oh well what can I say?

So, what did I do to get out of the doldrums? The first step was simply to embrace them and take a couple of days off. A bit of extra rest, sipping hot chocolate in front of a nice warm fire, watching a couple of James Bond movies will cure nearly any ill. But also during that downtime I took the opportunity to look back at a a couple of posts that I wrote last summer.

Last August, Kristen, one of my coachs ask: "What motivates you? Why do you run?" In my August 6th post I made an effort to answer that question. It really boiled down to running to stay healthy and to be challenged to do something that fewer than 2% of people ever attempt.

Then the end of August (8/30/10), after a couple of incidents which referred to my age, I posted my thoughts on aging and why I run. I am not attempting to stop aging, I just want to do it well. You are welcome to cruise down to those posts to read them (just go to the bottom and click on "older posts").

Re-reading those posts served to remind me just why I do this, why running is important to me. That helped considerably. Then Brandi, another of my coaches sent an email that was perfectly timed. In that e-mail she referred to advice from Andy Sipka and she related his comments to running, this advice bears repeating so here it is:

Take What the Day Gives You- If you're off, accept it and make the best of it. It was easy to win tennis matches when I was on my game. You have to learn to win when your game is off. The same thing in running. When your off and you are not hitting your pace or you hurt, find a way to make the best of it. Sometimes that is just finishing. Don't be afraid to walk if needed.

Mind flooding - When those negative thoughts get into your head, have a mantra to use like counting, repeat a motivation phrase, or sing a song in your head, (sing out loud if you can sing), honor someone and repeat it. In tennis as well as for running, focus on your breathing. Breathe in and out to your cadence rhythm. (Like the Karate Kid.) Most of you already know I use music to zone out. The worse I feel, the louder the volume.

Focus ahead - Focusing ahead could be the runner in front of you or some land mark. Make it feel like there is a rope between you and the land mark and your pulling the rope in. Focusing ahead will also keep good running posture. Do not look down, fight the urge.

Visual Imagery - When your feeling down, imagine a great moment in life, run, or event. Or think about what it will be like to finish our upcoming marathon with your goal on the clock. Think about the smile you will have on your face.

Think about your family and friends. When people ask me about the marathon, I tell them finishing a marathon is like getting a gold medal at the Olympics or winning the world series. Watch other sports and memorize the great joy on the athletes face. There has been many big smiles to see at this years Wimbledon tennis tournament. If it brings a tear to your eye that's OK. There is nothing better.

Create Support - Let people know what your goals are. You will be surprise the support you get. If you are running in a group let them know how you are doing. We are there for you. We are there to push you and to carry you.

Brandi closed with this suggestion:

"One thing that I would like to add is to think back to day 1. You were excited, you were nervous, you were ready. We are all training for different reasons, yet we all have a similar goal. If you need a little pick me up, talk to you new running friends. "Friends made in the FLEET FEET Training Team run deep." (pun intended)."

Good coaches seem to have a knack of knowing the right thing to say or the right questions to ask at just the right time. Brandi & Kristen are great coaches!

So in closing:

Have I mentioned that really do not like winter?
Have I mentioned that I really do not like running in the cold and dark?
Have I mentioned that I really do not like running in the snow?
Have I mentioned that I really do not like running stuffed like a sausage into multiple layers of technical fabric?
Have I mentioned that I really do not like running with a runny nose?
Have I mentioned that I really do not like running while drinking cold slushy water?

Have I mentioned how much I love feeling the joy that comes with running?
Have I mentioned how much I love the challenge of working toward a goal?
Have I mentioned how much I love crossing that finish line?
Have I mentioned how much I love the camaraderie of a training team?
Have I mentioned how much I love helping other runners accomplish their goals?
Have I mentioned how much I love running?

Begone damn doldrums, begone.
I'm going for a run!

Until next time,
Eric
aka RunGrampyRun

THE DOLDRUMS-QualifyGrampyQualify-Part XX

The Doldrums

Over the past couple of weeks I have experienced a series of nexuses.

Our training mileage began to creep up and I caught a cold--nexus
It snowed, it got colder--nexus
My cold lingered, it snowed again--nexus

Yesterday a non-running friend asked me:
"Don't you ever get tired of running?" -- the ultimate nexus!

My first reaction was to immediately respond "NO, I love running" but something stopped me and made me think and consider my answer. You see runners, especially endurance runners feel an obligation to defend our sport. Oh yes, we readily admit to begin a bit wacko but we tell everyone who ask, and sometimes those who don't just how much fun it is to run hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles just to prepare for one little 26.2 mile jaunt. Please know that we don't do this just to impress those less wacko than ourselves. We mainly do it to persuade ourselves that it is indeed true. A defensive mechanism to keep us going. So as I said, I stopped and thought for a moment and...

That brought me to the topic of today's blog: The Doldrums

In general I think we usually think of the doldrums in warmer terms, you know like:

Argh Matey, we've been becalmed in these here doldrums near the Tropic of Capricorn for nigh on to a fortnight. We be out of warm beer and bread, avast what I wouldn't give for a cheeseburger in paradise.

You get the picture, doldrums, a state of stagnation or a slump, a spell of listlessness.

I knew when I decided to train for a spring marathon that I would find it difficult to get sufficient mileage in during the winter months. I was so cognizant of that that I joined Lifetime Fitness so I could flee to a nice warm fitness club. But that means running on the treadmill, oft referred to as the "dreadmill". As the old saying goes, if you're not the leader of the pack your view from the rear never changes.

Even the manufacturers of treadmills must recognize it. When you set the time for your run they don't allow more than 60 minutes. I am surprised they don't put bright yellow warning label:

"CAUTION RUNNING ON THIS DREADMILL FOR DURATIONS IN EXCESS OF 60 MINUTES CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH"

Only under the most dire conditions should one subject themselves to this torturous method of covering miles. That means that there are still many miles to be run-----outside on the snowy dark and cold streets.

Thus, this week when presented with that question I was forced to admit, not only to my friend but also to myself. By golly, yes, I do sometimes get tired of all this running. It is sometimes hard for me to come home in the evening (I simply can't get out of a warm bed in the morning to run) stuff myself like a sausage into multiple layers of tight technical fabric and leave a nice warm home to run in the dark and cold. Then to come home, eat to replace the calories and rather than doing those all important stretches, to fall asleep in the chair missing a favorite TV show. Yes, I admit, sometimes I do tire of doing this 4 or 5 times each week.

Now please know that I do not write this to ask for any sympathy. We runners deserve NO sympathy! Any discomfort or pain or inconvenience that we incur is 100% self inflicted. IT IS ALL OUR OWN FAULT!

I write this simply to chronicle my journey toward Boston to someday when they reach the age of reason to help my Grandchildren understand that reaching a goal is not always easy. That endurance requires persistence.

Next time I'll share with you how I managed to get out of the doldrums, to get closer to that cheeseburger in paradise.

Until then,

Eric
aka RunGrampyRun

QualifyGrampyQualify Part XIX - Crazy? It depends on your point of view.

Let me begin with a definition of winter running:

1. Running in the cold and dark
2. Running in the snow
3. Running stuffed like a sausage into multiple layers of technical fabric
4. Running with a nose feels an obligation to run while I the whole time that I run
5. Running with wire coils strapped to your shoes for traction
6. Running with water bottles that freeze, if fortunate into and icy slush or if not so lucky into solid blocks of ice

It is January 25th and I remember now why I usually do not train for a spring marathon. I usually do a nice "short" half-marathon in April. I do not intend to minimize the accomplishments of half marathoners but there is simply a huge difference in training miles required to train for a marathon vs. my usual "just finish and don't worry about the time" spring-time half-marathon effort.

Adding to that the goal of preparing to qualify for Boston and we are talking about some serious mileage here. Think about running from St. Louis to Chicago and almost back to St. Louis kind of mileage. Think about over 120 hours running mostly in the dark and cold and on snowy, nose running winter days. Crazy you say? Yes we freely admit to being a bit, nay quite warped.

On the 15th, a friend, visiting from Chicago decided to head out with me at 6:30 AM as I got the training group started on a 13.1 mile run through 6 inches of snow. (I had run the previous day so as to be able to spend time with Susan and our friends for our anniversary.) His comment was: "I'd like to go because I have never had the opportunity to see 50 crazy people together all at the same time."

Fast forward to last Saturday, as we finished our ten mile run in 8-9 inches of loose snow I saw something that reminded me of old adage: "Everyone in the world is quite mad, except for me and thee. And sometimes I have my doubts about thee."

As we returned to the parking lot what did we see but a whole gaggle of crazies, even crazier than we runners, for they were playing softball in the snow. Yes, softball, a game where much time is spent standing about waiting for some action. At least runners are always moving, generating body heat, even to the point of sweating. As I stood my my car, stripping sweaty layers of shirts down to bare skin and putting on a dry shirt I asked myself: What would possess someone to play softball on a cold snowy winder morning? What possible advantage could there be playing snow softball?

A quandry. But there surely are some advantages. Okay, I thought, the ball wouldn't roll far once it hits the ground. Also, sliding into base probably is easier in the snow. But I finally decided that the biggest advantage is that snow softball players don't have to tote a cooler to keep the beer cold. If you are lugging 10 pounds, it's 10 pounds of beer. No cooler, no ice just beer! And you can slip your can into a pile of snow while you're at bat and it's still icy cold on your return.

And for the spectators there is a wonderful advantage. The teams are highly unlikely to play shirts and skins. So often in the hot summer months there is simply too much skin on a ball field, especially considering how much beer the typical softball player consumes. (I apologize for the generalization.) I didn't want to sick around long enough to get an action shot, but here is photographic proof that there are folks crazier than runners.

See, crazy all depends on your point of view!

Until next time,

Eric

aka RunGrampyRun

January 15th, 2011-A Very Special Day

January 14th I ran 13.14 miles in preparation for my spring marathon. The 15th was Susan and my 39th wedding anniversary, a very special day!

Please understand that when you are running for over two hours you have a lot of time to think, and sometimes you can even think about things other than where you're going to get that next gasp of oxygen. So while running that 13.14 (yes we DO measure by hundredths) I began to ponder: "Is there any affinity between marathoning and marriage?"


Here are some similarities that I found:

Mindset: The mindset that divorce is not an option, without this commitment the ability to see solutions to marriage's boiling points may well be overlooked simply because one eye was too busy examining exit strategies. The same applies to marathoning, once you make a commitment to a marathon quitting is not an option. Through the trials and tribulations that come with four months of intense training you must stay focused on overcoming the obstacles that are sure to come your way.

Affection: Ya just gotta love your spouse, there is no way around that. You have to love the good, the bad and the in between. The same goes for running. Sometimes the last thing in the world you want to do is go out into the heat, the cold, the rain, the snow and run double digit mileage. Love of our spouses make us persist. Love of our sport makes us lace up and get out there.

Respect: Thanks to Aretha,

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Just as you must respect, hold in esteem and honor your spouse, a marathoner must also respect what he/she is attempting to accomplish. 26.2 miles is tough regardless of how good the conditions are.

Respect: R-E-S-P-E-C-T , I'll say it again, not only because it is important but also I simply cannot think of another "R" word that fits.

Integrity: Without which nothing is possible. You have to be honest, honest with your spouse, and honest with yourself. When training for a marathon, you can write any mileage in that log, if you don't run it your lack of honesty will show on race day.

Acquiescence: A husband and wife must be patient with each other recognizing that neither are perfect, neither will always do what the other wants or thinks they should be doing or saying. Marathoners must be patient with themselves recognizing that their bodies, minds and lungs will take time to condition. That sometimes their bodies, minds and lungs will not always do what is expected of them, and yes we sometimes leave the toilet seat up.

Generosity: Giving yourself to your spouse, helping each other become better people, being there when you're needed, knowing that you can be counted on. Marathoners are some of the finest and most caring people in the world, always ready to share their experience and knowledge. You will never see a marathoner pass a downed runner without stopping to help.

Endurance: Marriage is not always a stroll in the park. It takes energy and persistence to keep a marriage strong, physical, mental and emotional energy. A good marriage is fed by both partners and only when proper nutrition is provided will it have the energy to succeed. Marathoners must take in physical, mental and emotional energy also. We not only need glucose to fuel our muscles but we must maintain mental energy to persist through the hundreds of miles of training. On the day of the marathon the greatest asset a marathoner can have is a body with no more to give but a mind that refuses to acknowledge it.

I'm not sure that I have always scored the highest in all these areas but I continue to strive to improve, to be a better husband and a better runner

On January 15th, 1972 at 10:30 in the morning, Susan and I were married in Chicago. It was a beautiful winter day. The sun was shining there was not a cloud in the sky.....the wind chill was 50* below zero! We shall never forget that day.

Happy Anniversary Susan!

Qualify GrampyQualify-Part XVII

FasterGrampyFaster

The last Lewis & Clark Marathon is history. The months of training paid off so it's time to sit back and relax.......

Well kinda.

Running 26.2 miles exacts quite a toll on your body. No matter how good you feel in the days after a marathon your body needs time to recover. That is what I have done the past week. I went for a couple of short runs to test my tight hip flexor and it wasn't until Friday that I felt significant improvement. It still is a bit tight with I first get up from a seated position but I expect that to clear up with a few mare visits to Dr. Rasch for some ART (Active Release Treatment).

Yesterday was the Chicago Marathon. It was a very challenging day for the runners. There is something about heat in Chicago that is just simply harder to deal with than elsewhere. I don't know if it is all the buildings and concrete, 45,000 runners or what.

My team did a great job under trying conditions. Paul & his wife Amy ran a 5:00:10 and 5:14:52; Mary ran her second marathon in 7 days turning in a 4:54:01. And Jaclyn, WOW ran 3:58:50. Ahhh sweet youth!

Our head coach, Kristen suffered in the heat, got heat illness began to black out and wisely decided to withdraw before her condition got so serious she would have to be hospitalized. It is a tough decision to make after over 20 weeks of training and preparation, she has my utmost respect for her effort and for her decision. As I have told my team many times: "Some days you eat da bear and some days da bear eats you." Damn bear!!

It is also common for marathoners to have a bout of depression after a race. Long hard hours and miles preparing for a tremendous challenge and suddenly in a matter of a few hours, it's over. The best treatment is to begin thinking of your next goal. Since, I have an overall long term goal I already had my next goal in mind.

It is a very short term goal. October 23rd will bring the Gumbo Flats Pumpkin Run. This is my "speed" race of the year. I run the 5k (3.1 miles) and this year my goal is to win my age group. The best I have managed in the past was a 3nd place finish. I have checked the past several years and the best time is 23 minutes. I feel that if I can run it in under 22 minutes that I should win. So for the next few weeks I will be doing shorter but faster pace runs. I'll throw in a bit of hill work to strengthen my legs which is always a good thing to build speed and some sprinting to increase turnover rate.

After the race on the 23rd I will spend November doing some cross training. Until training for the spring marathon begins on December 11, I need to work on losing some more weight, getting down to 150-155. Dropping my body fat percent and working on some strength and flexibility. It will be nice to have a change in routine.

I'll let you know how my speed run goes. Until then,

Eric

aka RunGrampyRun