Motivated to Succeed

"The guys in the '70s didn't know enough to worry about pronation and supination; that fancy running-store jargon hadn't even been invented yet. Their training was primitive as their shoes. They ran way too much. 'We ran twice a day, sometimes three times,' Frank Shorter would recall. 'All we did was run - run, eat, and sleep.'...They were so ignorant, they didn't even realize they were supposed to be burned out, overtrained and injured. Instead, they were fast, really fast."

 p. 93 of Christopher McDougall's Born to Run

Tomorrow is my first race since January 1, 2008. I don't have any goals but to finish with a smile on my face and to have a blast doing it. I am just so glad to be back to running. I think this quote stuck out to me as I read it earlier this week because I think today we think and overanalyze at times our training and racing, when really we could do a lot to learn from the greats of the 70s and early 80s. They ran because they liked it. They didn't worry about following training programs and spending buckets on fitnesswear, gps watches, etc. In truth they weren't invented yet, but besides that they were minimalists. They ran because they felt like it. I hope to capture their drive in my training. Run for the moment. Run from the heart. And run because you truly want to.

Here's to tomorrow's trail 5k race. Can't wait!!!

6:15 PM - Temperature was 78 and sunny, with high humidity. I was anxious about today's race because it's the first race I've done in 18 months since my New Year's half marathon in 2008. I won't lie. I had butterflies in my stomach as I changed and laced up into my racing attire. Jonny came with me. With an entry fee of $4 (most of which goes to benefit the Wilton Wildlife Conservation effort) how could you NOT go run through a hilly, muddy, obstacle-laden course?! Man I was so looking forward to today! Picked up my friend Jonathan in Saratoga on the way and could tell he was stoked too. The three of us got there about 35 mins before the race started. We went and signed in. Very low key race so we don't have bib numbers or anything. You get your finishing time on an index card and you write your name and age on there afterwards.

Warm up:  Did a short .5 mile warm up in 4:33 (9:40 pace) with Jonny and Jonathan. Felt pretty good. Feet were a little sore form two days of being on my feet all day at the Jazz festival. Got back to the starting area and stretched out. Saw my seventh grade English teacher. :). Stretched and got in the back of the back of 65 or so runners I'd estimate. I didn't want to be over zealous. Decided that I would hang in the back, and work my way up.

THE RACE!:

Mile 1: (8:12) - Started dead last right next to Jonathan. We started talking as we jogged off on our adventure. Within 200 m there are two somewhat substantial climbs and people were already dropping back to us and walking up the hill. We pressed on and he told me, "Benn, since you're more experienced with this stuff and since this is my first race I'll let you do the pacing." I tried to step up to the cause. All the miles and hours I've logged on the bike have certainly helped me develop metronome-like cadence when it comes to pacing. After two hills it opened up to a flat and the trail was pretty sandy. I love this course because it has everything: hills, roots, water hazards, dirt, mud, embankments, logs and stumps! Having a blast at this point.

Mile 2: (8:12) - Jonathan and I parted ways. He went off to chase down Jonny and/or several lovely young ladies that had been running in front of us. I tucked into a group of 4 runners. Let them set the pace a bit. Was starting to feel the heat and humidity, especially as mile 2 is predominantly all uphill. Kept cool and collected though. It was nice to be in the moment.

Mile 3: (8:17) - Right before the start of mile 3 the route crosses the road and you enter what I consider the best part of the course. There are a couple more hills, but then the last .5 miles is all downhill. At one point you are literally turning head over heels it's so steep. I saw two runners up ahead and set my eyes on them. I picked off the man first. He seemed to be slowing. Perhaps I was speeding up though. A cheetah on the prowl!. The lady in pink was next. Caught her at the bottom of a downhill. Weaved my way through the woods and got to the last huge downhill section, only it is single track and I got caught behind a guy. Followed him until the dam at the end of mile 3, and sprinted in for the finish. He later apologized for not moving over to which I said, "Hey! You beat me to the top of the trail fair and square. Besides you paced me for the last half mile!" He smiled :).

.12 (:47) 5:38 pace - Kicked it in across the dam, up and to the right, through the flags. A couple people were cheering. Ran all the way to the tape, thinking that someone might come up behind me. Ended up in 21st place (of 66 total runners) in a time of 25:25!!! Going into the race I had hoped 27:00 with a good performance of 26:00.  My time was awesome! They say to add 10-20% to your road time for the 5k because it's so hilly and all the obstacles. I had such a blast and am happy that this shows good things are to come!

Total Time: 25:25 Total Distance: 3.12 miles Average Pace: 8:08 / mile

Cool Down: After getting a drink of water I went with Jonny (13th place) and Jonathan (15th place) up to the 2 mile marker via the road so that we could retrieve Jonny's shirt. I joked that Jonny was trying to impress the ladies too by taking his shirt off. He said, "Yeah right. The only people around me were old hairy men!" Jogged back down to the finish line and watched the raffle. They always have cool useful stuff (i.e. pringles, popcorn, lint roller, fly tape, bug spray) stuff that real people need. Had a true blast today! Total cooldown was .72 miles in 7:08 (9:52 pace).

 To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. 

- Thomas Campbell

9:00 AM - Overcast and muggy. Temperature about 70 at the start. Got a bunch more rain last night. Didn't run yesterday because we got some terrible news yesterday afternoon. One of my mom's brothers passed away yesterday morning in his sleep. He was only 51. I hadn't seen my Uncle Joe in a couple years, but last time I saw him he looked to be about 70. He had been in a lot of pain and had had a pretty hard life. It's just so hard to lose people you are close to. What made things worse was I didn't know how to make my mom stop crying. All I could do was give her a hug and tell her I love her. To make matters worse my youngest brother and sister are on their way to California today for three weeks to stay with one of my cousins. Now my mom and her eight other siblings are all trying to get out to Michigan to help with the funeral preparations. Anywho, went to the track with Emmy. It was nice to have someone to run with. We ran a 5k on the track and then I did 5x hill repeats at the school. We finished with one loop of the big nature trail and a cooldown lap on the track. Stretched liberally afterwards. Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:00
• Mile 2: 8:50
• Mile 3: 9:04
• Mile 4: 9:29
• .33: 3:14 (9:54)

11:00 AM - Overcast and rainy with a temperature around mid 60s. My favorite kind of running weather. I just love running and getting my feet wet, my legs dirty, and a smile on my face. Went to the track with Emmy. Did a warm up with her, and then I hit the trails. I like running on the trails because it's good practice for the running series on Monday nights. Occassionally went back and checked in on the track with her. One time, got back there and saw her about 100m down the track and said to myself, "Alright, Benn! You'll catch her in one lap!" One lap turned into two and I realized she was pulling away. I looked down and I was running 7:30 pace! She is a quick runner chica if I ever saw one! Did a couple more loops of the nature trail, once around the school and cemetery as well. Felt really good. Finished with two laps on the track doing 100m striders, recovery for 100m, etc. etc. Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:39
• Mile 2: 10:47
• Mile 3: 9:58
• Mile 4: 9:55
• Mile 5: 8:38
• Mile 6: 8:14

Total Time: 58:07  Total Distance: 6.12 miles Average Pace: 9:29

6:30 PM - Actually sunny for a bit. Met Emma and Jonn after work today and we went to Panera and got lunch/dinner. Dumb move on my part. I went for a jog to unwind and all I tasted was burped up broccoli and cheddar soup! Yuck! Felt pretty good though, although legs were heavy. Probably because of the race on Monday and the long run yesterday. I am anxiously waiting to get back in runner shape! I really want to kick Jonny and Jonathan's butts in the 5k series! Splits, mostly on the nature trails in the woods according to watch were:

• Mile 1: 10:38
• Mile 2: 9:56
• Mile 3: 10:57
• .55: 5:31 (10:00)

Total Time: 37:04  Total Distance: 3.55 miles Average Pace: 10:26

A quote sent to me by our buddy Paul Ivory:

Life is a long, slow run. The fun is the run. Enjoy the hills, enjoy the bumps, watch your step, be good to everyone on the road with you, and don't worry about the finish line--it'll be here all too soon. How long you took won't matter, but how you ran it will." - Ken Williams Austin Fit class of 98.

4:50 PM - Long day at work. It's not fun working on holidays, especially when you make 8 bucks an hour for a company that refuses to pay you time and a half or even overtime on holidays or weekends. Add to that the fact it was the fourth and everyone felt compelled to go to a bookstore & that we are severely understaffed and it makes for a terribly painful day. As it is it is now 1:30 am on Sunday and I have to be up for work on my day off in approximately 5.5 hours. Awesome.

The run today was good to say the least however. Emmy and Jonn met me after work and we went and got changed at SPAC. There was some concert tonight there for Def Leopard and Styks or something. Went jogging around the golf course to avoid all the drunken partiers. Felt pretty good. Highlight of the run was when we saw a family of turkeys cross the road. The little ones were so cute!  Emma and Jonn smoked me again! Those quick devils!  Splits were:

• Mile 1: 9:46
• Mile 2: 9:25
• Mile 3: 8:54
• .5: 3:47 (8:03)

Total Time: 31:53  Total Distance: 3.5 miles Average Pace: 9:11

Afterwards I had to drive Emmy home to Pittsfield. She had been here since Monday and I am sure her mom missed her! So I drove her to Massachusetts, we got Chinese food and then went to downtown Pittsfield to see the fireworks at the ballpark! Really cool once they finally started. No set time as they just start whenever the baseball game is done. Then I grabbed a couple cups of coffee and dessert and had to drive the hour and a half back home. I am tuckered out! Tomorrow will be another long day I'm sure as I guess everyone but me had at least Friday, Saturday, or Sunday off. I need a new employer. Any suggestions?! :-D

Finally finished Born to Run today during my break. I didn't want it to end. Such a great read! Can't wait to reread it in a couple months!