Land of the Lumbering

Someone just informed me that George W. Bush ran seven minute miles during his Presidency. I have two comments. One: Random! and two, good for him. I mean that with all sincerity. I will never be about the seven minute mile. I will never be about even the nine minute mile. I am happy to be in the land of lumbering because, and this is very important, I can lumber far if I’m not fast. Far is far more important that fast.
Yes, it is true I have been talking about sub ten minute miles when it comes to 5ks but that’s only because I am running for charities and it’s not about me. Those runs don’t help me at all. Not in the least. I don’t get time to think. I barely have time to work up an appetite for a beer or a burger. I want the hunger after a good run.
So, having said all that – I have one more charity run this month – the Worcester Six; a 6k in memory of the six firefighters who lost their lives in that awful warehouse fire. After that, I have a week off and then, then! I begin training for a fall 13.1 (Saturday, September 10th). I am trying a completely different training plan. One that incorporates a better diet into the mix. Do I need to worry about what I eat? Being 112lbs on a bad day, no not really. I guess I’m playing mad scientist and seeing if it all really matters.
Last but not least, a burning question. My adopted home town is hosting a half mara six weeks after my Maple half in Manchester, Vermont. Should I do it? I don’t know why I’m on the fence. What’s not to love about an October 13.1? Should I?

Catch My Breath

I need a moment to breathe. Okay, a few moments. I have started to fall behind on the running recaps. That’s what happens when your motherboard dies a slow and agonized death and it takes forever to get anything done. For now, I’m digging the silence. I am less than two weeks out from a proper half marathon and the mental cogs are churning. Two weeks in a row I ran 13.1 and then went about my business as if nothing of the sort occurred. “Just another training run.” There is a small part of me that has been saying, Yeah? What of it? So? while another part of me (much, much larger) is freaking out. That voice is definitely louder, saying what the what?! Or, more accurately Are you fukcing kidding me? Have you lost your freaking mind?! I am constantly telling Kisa how crazy this all is. I make comparisons to me, myself and moi from “the last time.” I’m sure I’m driving him mad. “Last time I ran like this I was on crutches for a month…last time I ran like this I couldn’t stop coughing; thought I was going to lose a lung”…the last time…the last time….it’s enough to drive me crazy, too.

There is one thing that is the same. Bra burn. I.Can’t.Get.It.To.Stop. Every time I run I chafe. Bad. Doesn’t matter what bra I wear. Doesn’t matter what lube I apply. Doesn’t matter how long the run. I burn up every time. I look like a freaking burn victim. I’m hoping ToRunTo is cold, cold, cold because I think that will help. In the meantime, I taper. The numbers until race day are minimal: 5, 3, 4, 1?, 3. So. Five more runs, one being just a mile. Huh? Not sure I get that one, but okay. Whatever.

As an aside, I still plan to post the other blogs even though they are old news. I think it’s important to take ownership of past runs, even though they are just that, in the past.