Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

I've never been good at endings. Sometimes I let a relationship go on longer than it should. Today, I declared it over. My Mizunos and I are officially on a break. I've been wearing the same brand of shoes for years. Every few months, I buy two pairs of the same shoes (a good tip from another ex) and rotate them on my runs. I get excited when the new colors come out, but basically, the same shoes and I have been together for hundreds and hundreds of miles (including the 26.2 I ran last November in NYC).

I went by Luke's Locker this afternoon to check out a pair of compression socks, but instead, I left dating a shiny new pair of Sauconys. Duncan (head of the Luke's program) convinced me that my Mizunos and I really weren't a good fit anymore. In fact, my shoes could be the key to my heel pain. It seems that your foot changes as you become a more experienced runner. I don't need the correction that my old shoes provided. So, I'm moving on. Just like all breakups. Its bittersweet. Oh, I'll still see Mizunos around town, but it just won't be the same.

On a happy note, the weather was gorgeous for our Saturday run this week. I got to the lake thinking I had to run 20 miles, but it turns out I only had to run 18 --- which made me giddy with delight. Yes, people, I know that sentence is ridiculous.

The Hills

"These hills are where we all trained for Boston," Maggie announced. At least, I think that's what she announced. I don't claim accuracy for anything said to me between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. At 4:40 this morning, I crawled out of bed for the start of hill training. I don't know how I didn't register that hill training would be very ... well ... hilly.

I had never been to Flagpole Hill until this morning and I really can't recommend it as a destination for anyone. We started our ATP workout with a little 2 mile jaunt and then did an exercise where we run up and down the same hill for 10 minutes at a time with a 3 minute break in between. Sounds easy --- and it is ---- except for the running and the hill part. I think I made it up the hill about 1/2 as many times as the "Boston" folks, but I did not die (even though I announced my impending death many times during that portion of the workout).

After this little Sisyphus exercise (yes, I just referenced Greek mythology), we ran 2 more miles and then got out our towels for core work and stretching. Everyone was laying out their mats on the concrete in the park instead of in the grass. When one ATP member put his mat on the grassy area, someone says, "Oh, don't touch the grass. This place is infested with fire ants." WTH, people. I think that about sums up the first day of hill training.

Awesome Incorporated

I know *other* people run down University to SMU, but I like to pretend that it's my own private training ground. I run a variety of the same route most weekdays and I know every curb, crack in the sidewalk, and house along the way. When I run 5 or 6 miles, I go past a strip center on Hilcrest where over-privileged teens from HP hang out on their bikes in front of Blockbuster or the hamburger joint. I ran on Sunday evening and passed just such a gang. Most of the time, the kids ignore me as I am far too old to generate any interest. This go round I got a "hey" on the way out and an "Awesome Inc." on my way back. I thought I detected the faint glimmer of a giggle from one of the girls, but I was feeling pretty good about myself. "Awesome Inc.," I thought --- those crazy kids and their wacky sayings --- "I still have it going on. I am Awesome incorporated." Then, it hit me. They weren't saying "Awesome Inc." at all. They were saying "Awesome ink". I'd been to a Jersey Shore birthday party the day before and still had a fake tattoo pasted on my thigh. Think big red heart stabbed with a dagger with "BAD" written clearly across the middle. Awesome indeed. At this rate, I'll be banned from Paper City for life.

Music Snob

Running gives me an opportunity to listen to lots and lots of music every week. When you run as slow as I do, you have hours to listen to your new favorite tunes. You'd think that would make me less picky about my running playlist, but you'd be wrong. I take special joy in coming up with the artists/tunes that will keep me company each week. I'm thrilled when a great new album comes out that I can fully digest on a my long run. I can be a tough critic. That said, my friends taught me to be the kind of music snob that doesn't mind an occasional sing-along to Party in the U.S.A.

Last year, I asked people to contribute to my marathon playlist. It was a way to take all my friends with me on my run through NYC. Some of those songs got me through the tough miles. So --- the question is --- are you up for the challenge? Can you navigate the tricky waters of good running music? Pick 5-ish songs that you'd like for me to carry with me in November and I'll load them into a playlist for the big day. I'll be tired of the new Arcade Fire cd by then, right?

Going the Distance

18 miles --- 3+ hours of running ---- all before most of my friends rolled out of bed on Saturday morning. Last week, I took a few days off for Lolla in Chicago. I was afraid that all that music fun would catch up with me when I tried to go past mile 14, but ... between you and me, I kicked butt. 18 miles is my longest run of the summer so far. I haven't gone that distance since the marathon last November. 22 miles will be our longest run before the big day, but 18 is no joke.

When I have a long run, I prepare everything the night before. I load my Spi belt with goos, a few dollars, my extra car key, and course directions in a Ziploc bag (because otherwise nasty sweat will destroy the paper). I lay out my shoes, my watch, my headphones and my clothes. I pack a bag with flip flops, dry clothes for after the run, and towels for stretching. It takes a lot of time to get ready to abuse yourself with a pre-dawn multi-hour run. My super group and the Luke's folks do a lot of prep too. There are water stops, stashed frozen towels, Gatorade, popsicles, frozen grapes, and chalkers (who "chalk" the sperry loop portion of the course).

I can't imagine what drives us all to do this when we could be sleeping in our comfy beds, but I love the ritual of Saturdays. I love the miles alone to think, the tradition of a post-run breakfast with good friends, and the reward of a Saturday nap with a little brown puppy snoring on the floor by the couch.