Everything's Going as Planned...

So last week I ran Monday and Tuesday and chilled until the Soldier Field 10 mile run on Saturday (which was to be my longest run, ever). I had two awful runs both days. My foot was falling asleep, was slow, was hurting etc... Hence I was anxious. I was expecting the worse, praying for anything better.

I chilled on Friday night since we had to be up at Ass Crack A.M. on Saturday. I wake up and it looks pretty nasty out. Rainy and no sun and not too cold, which I didn't really mind. I actually prefer running in the rain in warmer weather.

We get to Soldier Field at about 6:45 A.M. and I go through my usual routine, which involves some stretching, putting down some fluid, tying and re-tying my shoes at LEAST 15 times (can't be too tight, can't be too loose and both feet must feel the same) and having someone pin my bib to my shirt so it doesn't like like a one-armed monkey put it on (I can never put them on straight). The stadium is open, so everyone is getting ready in the halls of Soldier Field.

We get to the starting area ("we" is roommate, his girlfriend and another friend of ours) where I continue to re-tie my shoes and stretch. I am now terrified that my feet are going to fall asleep, so I continue stretching my calves and ankles. We are all joking around getting warmed up. It stopped raining at this point and everyone is ready to get going. The starting area starts moving so we all pop on our headphones and move slowly towards the starting gate.

About 5 minutes go by as we move forward. During this time I take some some deep breaths and settle down. When I am sitting waiting in the start corrals, it kinda feels like going up the big incline on a roller coaster. It feels like it's going so slow and fast at the same time because once you reach the top, or the finish line, there is no turning back and you're never really sure if you enjoyed it until it's all over. And down we go...

I told myself I want to run my first 5 miles in a 9:30 to 10 minute mile pace, so I am running with one of the girls in our group and just taking it easy. Soon, I find myself sprinting ahead to the shrubbery to take a quick bathroom break and then racing back to catch up with her. No problems. First five are just fine. I'm not breaking any speed records, but everything is heating up good.

At about 4.5 miles, I start breaking away from our foursome (they were planning on running a slower pace). I start picking up my pace unconsciously and then later notice that I have. Moving pretty good and at about 5.5 I feel my left foot going out. Shit! Asshole foot. So I altered my stride a bit to lessen the impact of my foot and it worked! We make the turn and now I'm heading back to Soldier Field, looking straight at the skyline.

For the final 5 miles, I ran something close to 8 minute miles, which way exceeds my goal. I start to get ready for the final mile push. I hit the last water station (MISTAKE!!! Gave me a cramp, but I did the dramatic water-over-head-cup-toss move) and head to the finish. As I get closer, we circle around Soldier Field and enter the north end. We go under the stadium and come out on the field through the players entrance during the starting line-ups, which was pretty cool. We circle towards the side line to the fifty and I take off. I aimed for an 1:30 finish and pulled off a 1:26 time. Beat my goal by four minutes. Fun time and I couldn't be happier.

It was a very encouraging run. I am about 5 months out of the marathon, and I figure once I hit July it's going to get intense. I have already stopped drinking as much as I used to and now I have to start focusing on my diet.

I never wanted to be a "blogger", so sorry for the length.

For making it this far, check out a new mixtape by Kanye West.
New Kanye Mixtape: Can't Tell Me Nothing

Holy Tornado!

The (Slow) Sound of Progress


Last week I got serious and ran 25 miles in 5 days. It isn't anything huge, but I was happy with it and it was my goal for the week. They say you should be at 40 miles a week for four weeks with about 6 weeks to go before the marathon, so I am moving in the right direction. I feel good too.

I had some much needed R&R this past weekend and I am ready for another good week. This Saturday I am running the Soldier Field 10 Mile. It should be fun and I think I am ready. It will be the longest distance I have ran by about .5 miles. The cool part is that the finish line is at the 50 yard line of Soldier Field, so you can expect some dramatics, sort of like Devin Hester busting open a punt return, but just replace the blazing speed and quick jukes with slow acceleration and stumbling spin moves.

As I thought I would about this whole marathon thing, I am learning a lot about myself. I recently realized that life will be uncomfortable at times, and you just have to deal with it. Sometimes when you try to fix something that is uncomfortable, you end up making it more uncomfortable while losing focus on what you were really supposed to be focused on.

In other words, running sucks and it doesn't really get easier. A mile will always be a mile. You just learn to put it in perspective. You have to get through it to reach your goal, if thats 26 of 'em or just a few. Just like life. Gotta tread through the shit to get to the goods.

Happy Monday.

"The weak become heroes and the stars align." -M.Skinner

Everybody keeps on talking about...nobody's getting it done

Hi. I'm tired and haven't felt like myself for about two weeks. Whatever.

Anyways, I still haven't got back into it. I am hoping to feel better today and get out for 3 miles today. Still a little shaky. It's too bad, because the weather is great finally.

Good stuff: I saw LCD Soundsystem on Sunday night at the Metro. Great show. There was so much, yet so little on the stage. For all of the lack of technical understanding that I possess, this is what I saw on stage: 1 full drum set, 1 smaller set (w/ bongo drums), two guitars (sometimes two basses), 7 keyboards, at least 3 sample boards, and somewhere between 15-30 cowbells. COWBELLS!!!

The sounds were so incredible. You couldn't help but dance a bit. If you don't know, check out some LCD. It's all good, but my favorites are All My Friends, Yeah! and Someone Great. They ripped out a set ending 20-minute version of Yeah! that knocked everyone off their feet.

Moving on, I hope I can get back on my feet this week and straighten my shit out. If not, I am going to start the national running into a wall league.

Yeah!

Your Guess is as Good as Mine

Frustrated. Stupid body never agrees with me. So I had a great week running two weeks ago. Logged almost 30 miles and met my goal. Then everything started shutting down on me. Not sure what happened. I know I needed some time off, which was due, but then I got this weird walking migraine thing and I haven't run for over a week now. I probably have to take a little more time off. I have some things to worry about next week, but once I get through that, ready to get into it.

Not sure what gives, but I guess my body is trying to tell me something. Since I know I need to keep with positives through this endeavor, here are the positives of the time off:
-Shoulder is feeling much better
-Right leg/ankle/foot feels better
-Blisters healed up
-Washed all my stinky running gear
-Feet don't hurt

I think those are the clear benefits, without including sitting in front of TV and playing PlayStation. I've also tried to watch some old Bond movies as well. Bond movies were very long and boring until '85 or so, FYI.

Anyways, I was at a bar last weekend and heard a song that I knew, but couldn't figure out what it was. It was Coldplay's "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face", but a crazy, drum and horn heavy instrumental version done by Mark Ronson. Here's a link to check it out: Mark Ronson: God Put a Smile Upon Your Face

Your guess is as good as mine...

And remember, Wu-Tang is for the chil'ren. Much love.