Un-Comforting Thought

I've taken the last two weeks off running, and as some of you know, I'm now winding down my excellent adventure in Peru.

As I want to keep this blog focussed on my efforts to run a BQ, I'll keep the Peruvian metaphors light... and short.

It has been a fantastic experience for me.  One week, backpacking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the next floating down a jungle river at night in search of caimans.  Through it all though, there are some ideals that I will take away with me...

I don't like to be comfortable.  People grow from new experiences and challenges.  During my hike to Machu Picchu I was extremely fatigued, especially the first day.  It could have been the altitude (~13,000 feet), it could have been my lack of acclimatizing (less than 24 hours), it could have been the lack of sleep (2.5 hours... who could sleep before this adventure??), or it could have been that I was one of the few too stupid/stubborn to hire a porter (heaviest backpack), but I didn't focus on any of that.  I focussed on getting to our campsite.

One of my fellow campers asked, "is this harder than a marathon?".  I replied, "The last marathon I ran, I had no doubt in my mind I was going to be able to hold my pace and finish... this hike, I was actually considering giving in and getting a porter, which I would have considered as the ultimate failure for me."  (Please note:  I planned this trip with certain expectations for my fitness, and in no way do I wish to marginalize or diminish the other group members who elected to get a porter).

But with all my huffing and puffing, it forced me to take a moment, to take a breath and look out to where I was... soaking in the beauty of Peru.

I'll put this into my context of running:  I don't plan to be complacent.  I know, I have just over 4 months to get myself from a 3:37 down to a 3:20, 17 minutes.... being comfortable isn't going to be on my agenda.

"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it"  - P Picasso

The Last 5 is Always the Hardest

Not quite 5 minutes, but 6:04 and I'll have my BQ for 2012.


I am feeling pretty good now.  Mentally.


Physically, I'm still pretty exhausted feeling.  A lady in a hand cart passed me on the sidewalk today.  My calves are very sore and could use a good massage, I also have a huge blister on my left foot (i.e. the "tingle").  But I'm feeling very good.


I knew if I was to have any chance at Boston, I'd need to get my time down to at least a 3:45 for VIM.  I am feeling great that I beat that by nearly 8 minutes.


For the next 2-3 weeks, I won't be running much.  I'll be doing the Sun Run with Ruby and one or two training runs prior, and that's about it.  I'm not too worried that the lack of running will have much of an effect on my fall marathon plans.  I'll have June onward for some pretty good training.


Is a 3:30 selling myself short?  Should I look at a 3:20?  Funny thing tho is a 3:20 for RVM, I still won't be able to register for Boston 2011 as it'll likely sellout in September.  But how great would that be if it didn't?  One of the fantastic things would be, running Boston together with TLT and Sue!!!


Let me ponder for a minute.........................


Make it: the last 17 is always the hardest!


"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard" - JFK

VIM Review

Weather forecast for today was cloudy,cool, but most importantly, dry... perfect.


I went down to the race with TLT and Sue.  There was definitely tension in the air.  We were all a bit nervous/anxious.  Well, maybe not all, TLT, who had watched Glee the night before seemed the most relaxed, but for her, she admitted to being nervous for the first time.  I had tried to go to bed too early, but my nerves got the best of me and I stayed up longer than I wanted for a 5:15A wake-up.


I started the run well, it was starting to mist, but I thought it would hold off.  Sue and I were thinking of running together, but she started off much faster than I felt comfortable with, so I stuck to my guns and started off at a Garmin pace of 8:15.


The rain started coming down, at times fairly heavy.  I was getting soaked.  I usually don't mind getting wet, except for my shoes.  My socks are great when they're dry, but once they get wet... ummm, not so good.  So after about 10 miles I felt the slightest of tingles on my left foot.  Do I stop, take a minute out and try to fix my socks, or do I suck it up?  Yep, suck it up.


I don't know what it is about Vancouver.  Victoria seems to get a lot more people out cheering.  Vancouver, although much bigger, just doesn't have the crowds coming out... must be too big-city.


It was fun to hear people shout my name and cheer me on.  But I was pretty tired and all I could muster was a half-hearted smile and a fist pump.  But a big thanks to my running buddies for showing up, although I was tired, I did perk up upon hearing my name shouted out by CM, Wynne, G&B, and Shawna.


At around 35km I see TLT coming back on the U-turn, followed a few seconds by Sue.  They are both about 3-4 minutes in front of me.  I'm squeezing every bit of effort out.  I'm exhausted, but know that I didn't come here to dip my toes in.  One of my tricks was to run up the hills at a good pace, short strides and try to not slow down too much, but on the downhill, just give it everything.  If I'm going to slow down for the up, I might as well make up for it on the down.


At this point, my blister was no longer a tingle.  It was damn hurting.  Thankfully, it was only every second step as my right foot was mostly good.  I wasn't going to change my gait, I know that once that happens, you start to compensate elsewhere and things go down pretty fast.  Pain or not, the show must go on.


The second crossing of Burrard St Bridge was tough.  I've run the bridge probably close to 100 times, but it never seemed longer than it did today.  Once I made it to the crest, I gave everything I had on the way down. With about 2k to go, my vision starts to narrow and I'm really hurting.  I'm too close to slow down now.


I can see the finish line now and I'm not going to let anyone pass me.  Normally, I ease up. but not this time.  I hear my name over the loud speaker, the announcer mentions that I'm beating my PB by over 30 minutes.  Woot!


I cross the finish line, and break into a gagging/heaving fit.  I'm happy, I know I've done good.


Official time:  3:37:03