The Accidental Ten-Miler

After deferring my Marine Corps Marathon in September, I threw myself into other activities. I tried to put running out of my mind.

I forgot that I had signed up for Army Ten Miler.

I'd meant to sell my registration, but I missed the window. I figured I might as well go, walk part of the course, throw in a mile or two of running. Then I'd make like Rosie Ruiz and hop on the metro around mile 5 and meet Tom at the end.

(Last week, my PT told me I should try running, and see how it went. So I tried 2.25 miles on Friday and I felt pretty darn good.)

The sun was shining. The air was cool. It was a glorious, I'm-glad-to-be-alive day. I had forgotten how much fun and energy there is at a huge road race (30,000 runners!).

On the Army Ten Miler course

I walked. I ran. I kept my heart rate at or below 130 BPM to make sure I stayed within my limits. Walk. Run. Walk. Run.

I kept expecting to tire. I paid close attention to my body. Aside from a couple of random tingles in my leg, which vanished before I could be sure they were real, I felt great. I had to keep reigning it in. I enjoyed the slower pace, the people watching, the pass and be passed game. I felt like I could go forever.

I passed the metro station without a second glance.

As I rounded the corner at Mile 8, I noticed the only sign I'd been out of the running game for nearly three months: my feet were just a bit tender from all the plodding on pavement.

I can't even remember the last long run I did, sometime in July. That "muscle memory" stuff? Turns out there's something to that!

Here's hoping my bulging disc isn't too mad at me.

In My Dreams, I Run

In my dreams, I run.
But reality intrudes:
I'm quickly winded.

Running the Laurel Highlands 70 Miler in 2006

 

The Mountain Goat

The Mountain Goat

In the mountains, all is pure, all is calm,
all complication is cut off.
Rare are they who know how to listen,
happy they who possess wisdom.
One pauses on high ledges,
one climbs to the high clouds,
one sits in the depths of a gorge,
one pauses in windy grottos.
Here is the realm of harmony and joy,
where the past and present become eternal.

-- Hsieh Ling-Yun (385-433AD)

 I stumbled across this poem on Roger Ebert's Journal.

What's The Deal?

After seven weeks of physical therapy, it turns out my injury was not my IT Band, nor even my Quad. It is a Bulging Disc.

Thus the strange tingling, itchy, random numbness episodes I'd been experiencing while doing my test runs.

Determined to kick this injury to the curb!

I'm continuing physical therapy and doing some new back strengthening exercises.

No running or biking (say WHAT!?) allowed. I can walk on the Dreadmill and use the elliptical trainer, but that tends to bring the tightness to my IT band that first sent me to the Egyptian Magician (my Physical Therapist).

I feel so out of shape but somehow (admittedly, after I threw myself a few pity parties) I also feel positive. I can tell I'm getting stronger.

I'm hanging in there and I will be back!