Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

April 27, 2024

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Location:

Fort Collins,CO,

Member Since:

May 15, 2003

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided PR's:
5K: 14:48 (Track - 2001)
10K: 30:45 (Track - 2001)
10K: 31:32 (Bolder Boulder - 2013)
Half Marathon: 1:06:09 (Duluth - 2013)
Marathon: 2:17:54 (Grandma's) - 2014)
Marathon: 2:19:47 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2013)
Marathon: 2:19:49 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2010)

Aided PR's:
10K: 29:38 (Des News - 2011)
Half Marathon: 1:05:30 (TOU Half - 2011)
Marathon: 2:18:09 (St George - 2007)
Marathon: 2:17:35 (Boston - 2011)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Started taking Enbrel in March, 2009.

Run as much as I can, and race as well as I can. Make the most of however much time I have left as an able-bodied runner.

Training for the 2018 Colorado Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run until I'm old, and then run some more. Stand tall.

Personal:

1 wife, 2 kids. 1 cat. Work as a GIS Specialist/Map Geek

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony Trail Shoe Lifetime Miles:						247.50
Hoka Clifton Lifetime Miles:						491.50
Saucony Type A6 Lifetime Miles:						186.50
Saucony Zealot Lifetime Miles:						478.75
Saucony Kinvara 6 Lifetime Miles:						433.50
Saucony Kinvara 6-2 Lifetime Miles:						358.75
Brooks Pure Connect Blue Lifetime Miles:						337.25
New Balance Trainers Lifetime Miles:						314.50
New Balance 1400 Racers Lifetime Miles:						65.00
Brook Pureflow Lifetime Miles:						99.50

Fri, Jul 31, 2009

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Crosstraining miles	Total Miles
4.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.00

These are my typical daily thoughts onrunning:

5AM - alarm goes off. Running is pointless. I'm washed up anyway, and don't care anymore. I'm through. Forget it. Turn off alarm and choose sleep instead.

5:45AM - finally get up out of bed. Running still pretty pointless in the scheme of life, and I don't see why I should train anymore. But I can still run recreationally, a few miles a day. Maybe.

8AM - a run is sounding pretty good right now. But not too far.

9PM - a nice 10-miler sounds really appealing right now. But it's too late in the day, and I need to go to work soon. But I'll do 4 miles instead.

So that's my routine. Motivation is really waning, but increases in proportion to coffee consumption during the day. But I'm seriously bagging the idea of a fall marathon. It's just way too much physical and mental work to put myself through that. Perhaps that will change later on.

Today I ran 4 miles in the morning, the Center St Hill Loop. Ran pretty hard, but didn't wear a watch.

Brooks Adrenaline 8 Blue Miles: 4.00

Comments

From Kory on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 13:54:11 from 134.50.89.55

Paul, my sentiments exactly. Even though I'm putting in the miles my thoughts are not on a marathon. I think a lot of us were burned out from last years training. If you read other blogs this year it seems a lot of us have other interests and priorities and things happening in our lives. The best thing we can try is allow God to balance out what's important. I've had to do that and it sounds like your doing the same. I think God was letting me know this year that you burned yourself out last year now it's time to put me first.

You've had a lot going on this year. Adapting to a new lifestyle with a son. Fighting other issues with your body, and training for two great Half Marathon

performances.

We all need to have your mindset, if you don't feel like running than don't do it , rather than force a run. Even though you may feel good after the run it may not be good for you if your currently mentally burned out. You have the right balance and attitude and know what you need to do, that's something I need to be more like with my running.

From Jon on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 14:01:41 from 138.64.2.76

As you would say: So stop.

Really, if you're that burnt out and busy, take a break. Not a "still running 50-miles a week" break, but an "I'm going to be completely lazy and sit around on my butt not doing a darn thing and see if I can actually get my weight up above 130 lbs" break. Or at least quit setting your alarm for 5 am if you know you won't be getting up to run- that just makes you hate it that much more.

By the way, you're not along, though. I have some of those same thoughts most mornings before 5 am, and again when I'm trying to head out the door into the heat at 5 pm. But then again, I'm still excited for my marathon, so that helps, whereas you are working towards any definitive goals right now.

From Jon on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 14:02:35 from 138.64.2.76

... you are "not" working towards any goals...

From paul on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 14:05:45 from 76.27.122.123

Kory - thanks for the encouragement.

Jon - ha. Truth is, I still love running, but not training. Yeah, 50mpw is probably still training, but 4 miles after work with the kid is pretty relaxing, plus it helps my joints.

The thing I keep reminding myself is that I'm only 30. I know I will be a life-long runner as long as I am able, so there may be 30+ more years to do marathons and all those crazy things. But different activities for different seasons of life.

From josse on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 14:10:19 from 75.216.248.201

I think we need less motivated years in our running to make us more motivated other years. We can't keep it up from year to year I think we would break in two:)

From Jon on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 14:15:26 from 138.64.2.76

I'm all for the "run a few miles out of enjoyment" thing. So maybe you can stop planning runs, just take Seth out every now and then if you enjoy it (and not at 5 am), or take an occasional carefree run in the mountains. Don't track mileage, don't take a watch. Stop training and just run if/when you want to. No guilt.

From Kory on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 17:10:38 from 134.50.89.33

I agree with Jon. Just run for fun and not care what splits your suppose to hit or how many miles you should run today. Most days right now I don't have a clue what I'm doing and I have a marathon four weeks away with no training plan up to this point. I'm just going with what I feel each day.

We need to get out of the running cycle of performance and learn to enjoy why we started. That would be for fitness and fun.

From Brent on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 18:34:28 from 168.178.30.75

Paul, zen running, no watch, distance does not matter. I was buunt out in my mid thirties, did not run a race for several years, ran with no watch and did not log distance. Something special about just enjoying the day.

Other the other hand - your darn fast, talented, you have fans, awesome runner.

Stay Kool, B of BS Rool out

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