Power of Now

I'm a fan of the New Age Religion.

Well, having done about 2 minutes worth of reading up on "New Age", I'm not entirely sure if that label is accurate.  But I do try to adhere to the philosophies within "The Power of Now".

One of my goals is, is to immerse myself in the moment.

So, be it looking at charts on a computer monitor, or playing with my kids... if I'm there, I'm there.

With running, I've been going at it pretty good recently.  I'm setting PB's with each new interval and even JH remarked how much faster I've been.

I'm really at a loss to explain why.

Previously, when I ran hard, I'd try to focus on anything but the actual running.  I would think of other people or things in order to distract myself.  Heck, I even used anger to try motivate me.

Now, I'm not really thinking about anything except for what I'm doing... i.e. being present.  Instead of distractions, I embrace what I'm doing... the running and of course the pain and discomfort that comes with it.

This week as we huddled around John to get our paces for the 1x2mi and 2x1mi, he looked at me and said "6:45 and 6:30".  Are you f'n kidding me?  The fastest I've done a 2mi is just under 14 minutes (i.e. 7 min/mile) and the fastest 1mi I've ever done is a 6:40.

Sometimes it's hard, to just stand there and take what's given to you.   But that's what I did.  But in all honesty, I questioned the sanity of my decision.

At the start, I didn't think... I just ran.

Thirteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds later I was done.  Holy crap!  I knocked 30 seconds off my PB.  The 1 mile repeats also went well, 6:34 and 6:29.

I even "taunted" Amanda as we neared the end of the last interval.  "C'mon let's go" I said to her.  We sprinted to the end.  I felt like throwing up as I crossed the line, but at the same time, boy did I feel great!

"Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be." -- E Tolle

Running with Ben Kenobi

I feel quite honoured.

I've been Facebook friends with my old marathon leader, Angela.

Back in my Running Room days, she guided me, to do what I thought was the impossible... running a marathon.

She made running fun.  It was a very social atmosphere.  Our long runs weren't a race, they were casual.  We got to know all the people we ran with.

I met Chantelle there, and she in turn introduced me to TLT.  I met Wynne, Joe, Don, Grace, Beverly... heck nearly all my (running) friends are connected to my marathon clinic.  I met Sue at JH, but even that's has a RR connection, because it was Chantelle and Grace wanting to to sign up for JH because of the success stories they had heard about from people like Angela.

Angela and I had bumped into each other at coffee the week prior.  She's off to Boston so our training schedules are similar.  I sent her a message via Facebook and next thing you know, she's one of the gang.

I asked her to come up with a route and on Sunday morning she had 3 for us to choose from.  We went with Ambleside.  I am sure I mentioned this before, but I'll say it again.. I love running to the North Shore.  It's cool to say you ran to West Van, it's beautiful when you get there, and the run features two bridges, so it's a nice challenge.

I had a great time chatting with her.  We talked about everything under the sun.  We talked about her soccer days, her Ironmans, and even her days working at a grocery store.  By the time it was over, we ran about 22kms in a little over 2 hours.

"The Force will be with you, always." - B Kenobi

Livin' on the Edge

Last Sunday, I ran with a few running buddies, including TLT.

I love running with her.  Never a dull moment.

A few weeks ago, we were out for a long run.  She was pretty tired, as this was her first long one in quite some time.  Near the end, she said, "do you want to see me pole dance?"  I've been running for over 7 years, and I've never heard that question in the middle of a run before.  She then showed me some moves and I laughed.

On Sunday we were talking about the VIM and if the pace bunnies would be doing 10s and 1s.  I said, if they were, I probably wouldn't want to go with them, cause, I don't want to run that fast for 10 and then cool down for the 1.  I said that you typically need to run about 10 seconds faster, per kilometer, when doing 10s and 1s.

TLT said, "don't think about it so much and just do it.  You think about what you can and can't do, but you gotta run on the edge more."

What she doesn't understand is, I do.

For my intervals and tempos, I leave nothing on the table.  My entire focus is doing the best I can.  I used to run to my Garmin speed, but no more.  While I still check it, I'm not a slave to it.  I find that by looking at it less often, I put more effort in and I'm not constrained by my pace targets.

I don't set limits on what I can't do.

"So suck it up and tough it out and be the best you can." - J Mellencamp

What a Week I'm Having

I went back to John Hill's clinic on Wednesday.

The time off was good.  I had done some treadmill runs to prepare for the 2 x 2 miles, but outdoors was something else.

It was freezing.  Temperature was likely in the single digits, but a strong breeze ensured uncomfort. And to add a bit, I stepped in a puddle before the intervals began.  Anywho, I'm out there and happy.

I see some regular faces, but also a few new ones.  I always feel a little awkward running with new people.  I don't want to be out of place, nor do I like pushing the pace.  We went out strong, but started too slow after 1/4 mile.  By the 1/2 way mark (i.e. 1 mile) we were already about 14 seconds behind.  I don't mind leading, but I don't want people to perceive I'm trying to show them up.  I decided to take the lead.  I always have a twinge of guilt.  I finished 14:14, no PB.

The second interval, I took the lead early on.  Tiffany, who was supposed to pace us for a 14 min said she was recovering from the holidays and apologized for not being able to pace us.  Regardless, I still felt a bit guilty, yet I couldn't crack it, and came in at 14:06.

With JH down, I had one more event for the week.  Running with my cousin (in-law), Darren.  He's fast.  He's sub 3:05 and shooting for a sub 3 on his next marathon.

I was pretty nervous about running with him.  He's so much faster than me.  38 minute for his 10k, 46 for mine.  I told him I'd be running my tempo at 4:40-4:45 / Km.  His slow pace.

The day started off cold and wet, so I gathered my cold gear.  By the time I start my warm-up run, the rain slows down and the sun started to break. I arrive at our meeting spot about 2 mins early and see Darren too.  We have some brief chit chat and the tempo, for me, begins.  Darren helped the time fly by.  I'm watching him run.  He's not sweating, he's hardly breathing, and he has a leisurely cadence.

We spoke afterwards.  Some of the nuggets of wisdom I gleaned were:

• Wearing less is more. If you need one, get a Value Village hoody to keep warm beforehand.
• Enter a few races before the "big" event to get your head more comfortable/familiar around races.
• More mileage.  80-100Km per week.

I'm looking at doing the above.  It's tough being close to a goal, but not quite there.  I mean, if I were stuck at 4:30 marathons, I'd give up.  But this is so close, I can taste it.  These little things might give me the slight edge to go from a 3:31:24 to a 3:30:52.... squeak right in.

The End of the Holidays

It's tough training through the holidays.

Family, friends, and feasting.

Makes for a bit of distraction.

I chatted with my running buddies about Forerunners' speed work.  I liked it and was considering going back.  But the clincher was when I said, this is likely one of my last shots at BQing.  They said, if that's the case, don't compromise.

On Wednesday, I'm back, with both feet in.

John Hill, here I come.

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - unknown

How Do I Rate?

Before the Haney to Harrison race, I went in line to go to the Starbucks' bathroom.  I chatted with the person behind me as we waited.  I told him our team had a few ringers (i.e. top 10 finishers) and I facetiously remarked that I'm happy to just finish in the top 1/2 of my category.  He said, "that's fantastic!"

I'm surrounded by some really good runners but I'd never put myself in that category.  It's nice to have them as a runner role models.  Sue plateaued for a few weeks after the VIM but has been killing it since.  I can't believe I once thought she was reachable... but at the H2H relay she showed what she was made of:

	Overall	Place in Sex	Km Pace
Sue	31/198	7/72	4:22
Tony	41/198	29/95	4:48

I was pretty respectable on my portion of the race, finishing top 21% overall, and top 30% for males.  But Sue was top 16% overall and top 10% for females.  Her pace for the 13.5km was 26 seconds faster than mine for 13km.

I like to have reach goals. But she's kept on getting faster.

I recently completed my speed work for the year out of Forerunners.  I'd been at it for a month, I started off in the 50 minute group, but dropped down to the 45 minute one.  It's been a tough transition.  I'm near the back of the group and giving it my bestest.

I enjoyed running with the 50 minute group, but I knew that by leading the pack, it was not pushing me to run harder.  When I dropped down to the faster group, I found I have to push hard just to avoid being last.  I'm not sure if you need any more motivation than that.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I see how far I've come.  But I also have that twinge of self-doubt that chips away at my ego.

Sure I've gotten faster.  But then there's Sue and TLT... they have gotten much faster.

I registered for the Vancouver Marathon today.  Four months to train.  Mentally and physically.


"The smaller the mind the greater the conceit." -- Aesop

Trophy Hunting

During a recent outing, a very long time friend and I were discussing life, the universe and everything.  A bit of a preface... I feel it has taken me 40+ years to just begin figuring out what life is about, so by no means am I an expert.  But I said, for me, life is all about doing things that you've never done before... seeking out new experiences and getting everything you can from it.

He said I sounded like a trophy hunter.  Trophies, for you non-PlayStation 3 gamers are "achievements" you receive for doing certain things while playing.  Yes, they are virtual trophies, so they aren't tangible nor do they have any inherent value.  Also, the tasks are not along the critical path to completing the game, but more of a fun aside. In summary, they are little pieces of nothing.  So when my trusted old friend accused me of being a trophy hunter, I thought it made me seem a little superficial.

Well for me, my big pursuit is obvious.

In 2009, Boston sold out in late January, at the time it surprised many how quickly.  For 2010, it sold out in November 2009.  And now for 2011, it sold out in 8 hours.  My confidence of running a 3:30 is pretty high, as long as I can stay healthy, but with the accelerating pace of the sellouts, it seems that I may have to do better.

I bumped into a couple of running buddies last week and we had a quick discussion about it.  Beverly thought they should charge more rather than raising the bar.  I don't agree with that.  At $135, it is on par with the a major marathon, but 1/2 the cost of NY.  But I believe that Boston should be "good" runners and not just OK runners with money.

If Boston raises the qualifying times, I don't know whether my best will be good enough.  I do know that come May 1 (VIM) I'll be prepared to give it my all.  I also know, when I'm done, and nothing is left on the table, I'll be proud of what I've done, where I came from, and what I went through.  Sure, it might not be enough, but in the end, I'll be delighted knowing how much I've gained, and the only thing I've lost??? Well,  just a trophy.