Sunday, December 26, 2010

Week 3 - Records Are Meant To Be Broken

Broken

With the holidays here, Run Camp didn't meet officially this week. On the schedule I had to laugh because for the 25th they listed the mileage we were suppose do our long run as "on your own". I secretly wonder how many people really ran that day. When you're on your own, it's easy to cheat! For the record, I actually did run, just not very far. But I get to qualify that because I had made arrangements and called in my support group (okay, support person Crazy Train) to do our long run the next day. It also just so happened that one of our group leaders also decided to do a group run, so we ended joining them. Can two other people and the group leader really be a "them"? When you include the two of us, for a grand total of five people, I guess so. Eh, I was happy.

Every superhero has a weakness, heck that's the link that makes them seem human. I'm sworn to secrecy, but I know CT's Kryptonite. I'm going to share this information with my blog only because nobody reads it, so it will remain a secret, but when it comes to hills she becomes much more human! Why do I bring this up? Because, I'm taking FULL credit when I cure her of this deficiency! Oh yeah, I'm going to brag about it, hell maybe the Biggest Loser will come knocking on my door for the next trainer gig. Being only our third run together, I already noticed an improvement. About a mile into our run a long mile hill started. One of the other people in the group clearly struggled with it, so I kind of hung back and tried to keep that person motivated, the whole time smiling as CT powered up and to the end of this monster hill.

The group ended up deciding on doing eight miles. It was a good run, even though we tended to stop more often than I like. I can't be positive, but I think CT would have been happy doing eight, if "on your own" is easy to cheat, what good is a partner that doesn't push? This week was my turn to push us. We said quick good-byes to our group, then CT and I split off to add an extra mile or two. Even though I was very proud of how CT did in hills earlier, I headed right to the biggest hills that I knew of (remember my game from my previous entry). At one point she actually made a comment to me that made me think she was debating quitting or maybe it was just that she was very displeased with me. Either way, I can't remember the exact phrase because I was so out of breath myself, my brain wasn't functioning, but I swear it happened! I know I didn't hallucinate it! Once out of the hills, she admitted it felt good and thanked me. Looking at our stats from our run, we actually got faster in the hills, which I think is damn impressive. We are going to rock this marathon.

So....why the broken ornament in the picture? Well, besides it representing the first and LAST time the Christmas tree has been up in my house for fear of what the cats will do to it. In the coming weeks, many distance records are going to be broken like this ornament, but this week is special because it represents the first time I've completed double digits in a single run, 10.17 to be exact! Oh, and if for some reason it didn't convey to words in this blog entry, I feel FANTASTIC!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

In Running, It's Better To Lead Than Follow



Ooooooh Awwwwwwwwwwh! (Now pretend the sky opens and that first beam of light comes shining down on me)

I wouldn't call it an epiphany, maybe it was, it was at least a moment, where it hit me that my attitude regarding Run Camp sucked. I happened to be watching some music videos that featured people running in them, when it just clicked, I just want to run! I went from sitting really doing nothing, to actually starting to get giddy and trying to figure out how I could get out and run. Take this video for example, he looks fast and has great form, yet all I want to do is race him! It's probably safe to say that most people view running as a chore. Even a month ago, I would have agreed with that, but something has really changed recently and it's hard to explain (I am a guy after all and expressing feelings is almost like running a Marathon, it's not easy!). Watching the clock knowing that run is coming up, actually running breathing the air and seeing the sites, feeling the various surfaces under my feet, and the sense of accomplishment after a good run, I love it! With all those positives, it seems silly to get frustrated with something that is out of my control.

The more I thought about it though, I figure there are two options, live with it or fix it. Since I fix things constantly all day, it only seems natural which way to go. So, this is my pledge to step up and not follow behind complaining anymore.

Maybe this blog entry should be called Week 2.5, since I just finished the mid-week run. I've really been enjoying runs that Gazelle's has been putting on. I convinced my new run partner to come out and join me. Her name is Crazy Train by the way. That may not be her given name, but it IS fitting. I was going to be completely satisfied running six miles with the group. Oh no, not with CT, she wants to do another two after we finished the six. Don't tell her this, but there is NO WAY I'm letting her show me up! Off we go by ourselves this time. Well, just like my navigation underwater, my land navigation happened to be slightly off because I took us two point something miles instead of exactly two. Her response, well we have to do nine now! This is where I began to question this new decision not to complain (even though it would be impossible anyway as I was smiling the whole time), but I also I have to admit my new game, I'm curious if CT quits. We did call it a night after nine miles, so although she's crazy, she's not insane. Though we stopped for the night, we never quit, and I'm already checking the clock for when we get to go again!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Week 2 - Rubs Me The Wrong Way

5 Miles Up

There were a couple of different directions I could go with this entry. The Yooper in me thought about using the theme of The Second Week of Deer Camp only with Run Camp injected in it's place, but in all honesty I can't stand that song. Any time it comes on, it does make me want to bash my head against the wall. Run Camp isn't causing the exact same reaction yet, but it is causing me to at least shake my head. Another theme, I could treat Run Camp as this mysterious metaphysical, binding force that surrounds all living things with both a light side and a dark side, yet can't be seen, but George Lucus would probably sue me. Instead, I'll attempt to tell the story of the events of the week and relate them to the final outcome.

The Run Camp experience is split in two sections, the long run on Saturdays and typically a shorter mid-week run. The mid-week runs are optional, though technically everything is optional. They aren't going to make you run and turn all drill instructor on us. If week one caused me to wonder, then week two only confirmed my suspicion that we are on our own to figure out our own path. My group leaders picked times for their mid-week runs that no working person can make. See now how I could have easily gone with the shaking my head theme? My solution to that problem, I already had been doing a mid-week run with a completely different group, which surprisingly enough has a much better social side (and didn't cost me a dime). I don't want to change the subject, but I had a very enjoyable run this week with them, maybe that will warrant another blog entry by itself. Back on subject, I find it very odd to choose times that would be very difficult for people to be able to participate. Then again, this is Michigan and with very few people working, maybe it makes perfect sense. For me it doesn't.

Since I'm still not entirely sold on my group, listed on the schedule for today's agenda was thirty minutes for what's called drop/add, or switching teams. This surely would be the time when as a group we talked about our goals, how we were feeling, getting to know fellow runners, and basically deciding if we were in the right group. Instead, that was maybe two minutes (without any of those ideas by the way), while we were given a demonstration of core exercises for the rest of the time. I can't complain too much, that is valuable information and at least we are getting something. But this week is suppose to be the week teams are set for the remainder of the camp. This is where I'm just going to let the force (Luke, I am your father) of Run Camp run it's course, hopefully the light and the dark sides are equal.

Now to the run, the whole purpose of Run Camp. I started out in the back, mainly just to watch how the run would go this week. Would we stick tightly together, would there be more conversation, or would it be a repeat of last week? A mile in, we were split into about three clumps. So, this was going to be a repeat of last week. This is where I got irritated, already not happy with the mid-week run events, a group run that really isn't a group, our pace seemed slow (though looking at my stats after we were within our limits, so I can't officially be mad at that, but damn it, it felt like it!) and I could see a small group pulling away from our front leader. That was the last straw and clearly I'm on my own again this week, might as well run for me. I caught the group that was pulling away and stuck with them for a short time, then some hills started and they slowed and I kept going, now I was leading our group. The second water station was a 3.5 miles out. I stopped here, curious if the group would turn around here or not. Originally, I was only planning on doing 7 miles, so this was going to be my turn around point. The first team member behind me also got a drink, then as I was planning to wait for the rest of the group, she says "ready to keep going?". If she's doing it, I'm game, so off we went. At about the same time we started, a good song started playing (oh yes, I head my headphones in again), so I know I pushed the pace even more (so for the record as somebody who is complaining how non-social Run Camp is, I'm not doing my part either). Even though I was grooving, it hit me that her single comment to keep going was the most interaction I got in two weeks of Run Camp, that should count for something and what did I do, sped off without taking advantage of this opportunity. At mile marker 4 I stopped again, now I've never ran more than 7 miles and I'm now at the point of doing 8. She wasn't that far behind, our group however was.

Same question, turn around? Yet, I didn't even get to ask it. She pretty much just ran passed me with the comment, "lets do 9". Sold! Here's my run partner for Run Camp. Whether she was looking for a partner or not, I'm not sure, but she earned my respect at that moment, one for pushing me, the second for not seeming concerned for what our group was doing. For the remaining 5 miles I was finally happy to run with somebody. I think it's a pretty good match, which was later confirmed when she announced to her friends that I was the one who pushed her to do 9 miles. Huh, somebody who enjoys teasing, that doesn't sound like anybody I know! So mark this on the calendar, this is the first real positive to come from Run Camp.

Took a long time getting here, but the title of this entry. Yes, Run Camp does rub me the wrong way so far. Why the picture of the sand? The lesson for this week is when running long distances, clothes do tend to rub. It wasn't until I got home and jumped in the shower that I noticed my nipples felt very odd. After those two long seconds that took entirely too long to register why (I are so smart!), I realized that my shirt was rubbing to the point it felt like my shirt was made of sandpaper. Not anything major, in fact it's kind of funny, but that information was NOT given out in Run Camp. So, Week Two rubbed me the wrong way in both senses of the phrase...but the physical issue is correctable and the mental issue got a whole lot better based on my new partner.

(Yeah, I know I used this photo before for a prior blog entry, but I find it cool that it has sand in it for my sandpaper reference, but even more interesting is what I titled it back then, "5 miles Up" since it was the last 5 miles that things started to look up.)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Week 1

runcamp

If I'm going to run a marathon in a few months, I probably shouldn't do my training at 7 pm (inside joke there). Even though I've completed 438 miles on my own since May, I decided to give Borgess Run Camp a try for a couple of reasons. The first being the most obvious, since they are putting on the marathon, one would think they would know how to train people for it. The second, I've heard good things about their program, plus I already knew a couple people participating in the program and it never hurts to have a few familiar faces around. The official start was today.

Well, I'm hoping that this is one case where first impressions are wrong. Today was a mixed bag of thoughts, some positive, some negative. Even though I'm surprised at the number of negative thoughts, it will probably make for better blogging, or at the very least it will be interesting to see how this plays out for the next 18 weeks. Most of my negative feelings come from I expected more. We picked groups based on our pace and those groups have team leaders. Granted, my group has three leaders, but by my count it also has twenty seven runners. I guess I expected a group size somewhat smaller. Maybe they expect a certain level of attrition, but the camp makes a big deal about knowing your fellow runners, there's no way I'm remembering twenty seven names! When I say I expected more, I didn't mean larger groups, I was hoping for a more personal feel.

Running has an interesting dynamic where it's really you versus yourself. Sure, you really are racing against other people, but at least for me, I have many conversations with myself as I'm doing it (as I look over my shoulder seeing if the guys with the straight jackets are coming). The past couple weeks when running with friends has been much different than running alone, the runs with friends have been much more enjoyable to me. I suppose what that really says is that I don't like having to talk to myself! I was expecting Run Camp to be more social than it was the first day. I figured we'd get into our groups, then do some kind of introduction to get at least some idea of the various types of people. Instead, it was form into groups, go outside do some quick stretches, then start running. At some point during the stretches after I saw about the sixth person put in their headphones, I figured there wouldn't be much conversation during our run and broke out my own headphones (which I wasn't planning on using, but had them with me just in case). At this point, I found humor in fact I joined a group to run, but I was pretty much running by myself, let the fun conversations with myself start.

The run itself didn't go as I would have expected either. Though we started out in what I'd call a herd, by mile 2.5, we were already fairly spaced apart. Where I'd expect the team leaders to act as herders, by mile 3 we were on our own. Then finishing, again I expected at least some kind of interaction of "how did it go?", "here's the plan for the week", etc or even some kind of group huddle. Instead it was only the three or four of us that pretty much stuck together for the run, grab some snacks, check-in that you are back and that's it. For a group run, it didn't stay a group for very long. Weird.

Even though I don't have anything positive to say about the overall experience, I really did enjoy the run. There was a fair amount of black ice out there and it made for a very interesting feeling between running and skating. After mile 3, something clicked and I think I smiled the whole way back. The temp was perfect, I felt comfortable on the roads and my footing, and my body felt awesome. I don't ever remember smiling on the second half of whatever distance I'm going before, normally I'm sure it's a face of anguish.

18 weeks to go, hopefully I didn't pay money to run by myself. I struggled deciding which pace to go with, it's probably still too early to tell, but that pace felt good. I'm still somewhat torn because I'd like to run with friends, but at the same time I'd like to push myself with my pace. Since one of the themes of Run Camp is being positive, my positive outlook is at least with my group, when running on the road my chances of being hit by a car are greatly reduced...lets say 1 in 27. Maybe I'm wrong with my gut feelings and things will work themselves out after week 2.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Surface Swrun

Run Through The Lights

I get enjoyment when things that logically don't seem to go together, but end up making a pretty good pairing. Running in the winter could be one example for sure. Another, on this night, was seven divers getting together to run a 5K. With the season over for the most part, in both sports, this fun run came at the right time. Divers are a unique bunch and one thing I've noticed is if one of us is doing something, others get very interested and it suddenly becomes maybe I should do that too. This can be both bad (lets push the limits at little more than we should) and good (in this case, lets be more healthy and push ourselves).

The Run Through The Lights race was a free event with a food donation and looped around downtown Kalamazoo. It wasn't a timed event, so it was more of a fun event, but for the two people in our group who hadn't run a 5K before, it was a good starting point. One of who was deathly afraid of finishing last, yet I watched her sprint at the end (and for the record wasn't even close to finishing last). The other new person was already planning on getting us to do a small triathlon together for next year. So, from that point, I think our outing was a huge success. But based on the participation, I have to imagine the whole event was also a success. I think my overall favorite part were the reactions from people in cars as they all had looks of surprise, shock, and maybe even fear as this giant mob of people were running at them. Based on the huge crowd, which was suppose to stick to the sidewalks but we spilled out into the road and took a single lane of traffic too.

One lesson from the night, even though divers seem to be able to talk their fellow divers into some things, it's only by doing. Afterward for dinner to celebrate, none of us could convince the other to attempt The Bomb Burger. It's only a full pound of beef and another pound of fries, yet without actually seeing somebody DO IT, we all passed on that challenge!