THE NEXT CHAPTER

OK. So here's the deal. I lost my job a week or so ago. I'll not bring it up again, except to say that, as a result, I have a some extra time on my hands. Because of that, in order to retain some semblance of sanity, I have decided, urged on by a number of friends, to write my long-thought-about running book. But I need your assistance.

If you're a regular reader you know I finished twelve marathons in twelve months last year. Some folks, runners and those who just don't get that "running thing", have indicated that they found that inspirational in some way. I'm not sure I get that, really, especially given the pain I felt while doing every one of those races, how much I did NOT want to train on so many mornings, and how many times I questioned my own sanity during the process. Not much there that I would consider inspiring!

I am also so very aware that there are so many other runners out there, many of them dear friends of mine, who have run many more marathons than I have, most of them faster than I will ever run. So, I'm not sure that what I did last year was so special that anyone would want to read about it.

Don't get me wrong. I am quite proud of the case behind my desk that displays my 30 marathon finisher's medals, twelve of which were collected last year. It felt nutty to commit to doing it in the first place, was such an adventure during the process, and resulted in an amazing sense of relief when it was all over. Besides that, however, I am not sure myself what it was all for. I have yet to consciously glean from that experience whatever life lessons may be hidden within. Perhaps there's some shiny new bling in there. I could use some.

Here's where you come in. I would love to know what you would like to know about the adventure. My running has taken me to some amazing places and introduced me to some even more amazing people. I have stories about Hungarian police pulling me off of the only marathon I've started but didn't finish, frantically looking for a store candy store in Barcelona, my wine-laden search for the Loch Ness monster the night before a marathon in Scotland, the power of the "Big G", the power of Mars bars, my hunt for choco-bacon in Austin, and why one should check the Internet's bed-bug index when booking hotels in marathon cities.

I believe there is something interesting in my stories..I'm just not sure yet what it may be. If you can help, please do. Cheers. But for now...

Gotta run!

PULLING OUT..PULLING FOR

From the moment I made the decision on Saturday to not run the Los Angeles Marathon the following morning, my trip to Santa Monica became nothing about me and everything about the folks I know who were going to be out there at the Dodger Stadium start.

I met with Patti, John and Bert at the sun-baked expo, wavering then, but not yet decided. Both of the guys were uncertain they were physically 100% up for the challenge, due to nagging knee pains, but were totally down with being out there. Patti is always cheerful. She loves hot weather, and was seemingly stoked and raring to go. I have run with all three before, and know how much they love the marathon. It was nearly contagious enough.

My friend, Bob, lives and trains in Tokyo. He REALLY trains. His blog is impressive numbers on top of intimidating numbers. We both ran Santa Barbara International last December. If memory serves, he was shooting for 3:04 then. He only managed to pull out a disappointing 3:09! We were supposed to meet up at the LAM expo, too, but we didn't...because I needed to get out of the heat. Patti, John and Bert and I headed off to find a couple of cold beers.

When the brews and snacks ran out, I headed back to my hostel digs, fairly certain I would NOT be spending the evening pinning my bib on my running shirt and going over the last minute race instructions. Instead, I came up with my plans for hanging out at the finish line, to take pictures of my friends as they conquered the new LAM route.

I wasn't able to go to bed as early as I normally do, because I had to deliver my other friend Sandra's bib to her. She was driving down from the Bay Area and couldn't make the expo. She rolled into Santa Monica at about 9:30, and the hand-off was complete. She also had a gift for me. She and I are both Pepperidge Farm Cheddar Goldfish addicts. Sick? We think not. Please don't judge. The surprise she had for me, was this beautifully hand-crafted goldfish cap! Sweet!

Before hitting the hay for the evening I chatted a bit with the two new runner guys in my six-bunk hostel room. Turns out they arrived late at the expo and were not able to get the free t-shirts in the size they needed. Both wanted a large, but the marathon planners apparently didn't plan well enough to have the sizes that would satisfy all late-comers. I could only help one of them. I had a large I would not wear, seeing that I wasn't going to run. Gave one guy my shirt. He said he'd remember me every time he wore it. A nice thought...but I'm guessing not so much. Just glad to help.

As race morning arrived, I was not offended at all by the two roomies fumbling about for their gear at 4AM. After they slipped out, under cover of darkness, I went back to sleep. Got up two hours later and did a 10 mile run along the Santa Monica beachfront. Showered, then headed for the finish, expecting to see Tokyo Bob crush his goal time. Turns out it was not to be. Once again, he let us all down, only managing a dismal 3:08. A minute faster than Santa Barbara!

I met up with him moments after he finished. His comment was, "these things don't get any easier." I could tell he was disappointed that he had not cracked 3:04. He would find out later, at the post-race party at his delightful daughter's condo in East Hollywood, he won his age group...again. I only have to trim a little less than 2 hours off of my marathon best to come close to what Bob does. He just rocks.

After Bob crossed the finish, honestly, I knew I had a little time to spare, before the rest of the crew would arrive. Grabbed a coffee, strolled out onto the Santa Monica Pier, and then came back to snag a photo-spot beneath the 26 mile banner. Waited there from when the time-clock said 4:30 til John passed before me. Turns out I missed Patti, Bert AND Sandra, even though I was standing there ready to capture their success on digital. I did catch John, thanks to text messaging.

Every one of these folks is a star in their own right. This was not an easy course. Each handled it with determination and humor. I missed the shared experience. I am sorry I won't have the stories to swap about "that year we ran LA". However, I am better for having witnessed their accomplishment. 

Gotta run!

A DIFFICULT FIRST

I have never done this before. 

I am currently sitting in Santa Monica. It's the night before the Los Angeles Marathon, the reason I came down here. I was going to run, but have decided against it. The choice is not without disappointment. 

The deal is this. Having gone the 26.2 mile distance 30 times, I pretty much know what would be required of me if I did suit up and give LA a shot. I know how far down I've dug before to pull myself beneath the FINISH banner. I'm also fairly certain that right now I do not have those reserves. 

I'm not whining about my recent job loss. I am simply acknowledging that it has taken it's toll on my ability to focus on efforts I don't have to take on right now...in order to save my energies for more important tasks at hand. If memory serves, I have been unemployed for only 2-3 weeks in my life...since I entered the work force, 40 years ago, in high school. This is new, and daunting. 

I went to the marathon expo today, in search of the inspiration that would push me to choose to run tomorrow. I met with dear friends there, talked to others on the phone and online, seeking similar assistance. They all stepped up, offering their best advice and support. Most voted that I should run. A few others indicated they would respect any choice I made. It did not take long for me to realize that I needed to find the inspiration within, and, try as I may, I just could not today. 

I will probably go for a nice run along the beach in Santa Monica tomorrow morning, before ending up at the LAM finish, to high-five my marathon-finishing friends. I am sure they are all folks I'll be running with in the future. I'm already looking for another marathon sign-up opportunity. After all, I've... 

Gotta run!

PULLING FROM THE CORE

Earlier this week, with an abundance of caution, I laced up my Beasts and reintroduced them to the pavement. It's been five weeks since I hurt myself and found myself in Recoveryland. It is not a fun land. I did three miles that day, around Oakland's Lake Merritt, and another three miles on the treadmill on another day. It was after those little jaunts that I decided I was probably ready to kick things up a bit, especially since I have the Los Angeles Marathon in four (arrgh???) weeks. Today I slipped into the Beasts again and headed into San Francisco, with the goal of starting a ten miler right outside my jacuzzi-equipped gym and then ending it there, hopefully, without pain.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/25243588

Immediately, upon stepping outside my door, I started realizing the things I've missed not running the past month or so.

I was not raining but it was threatening to. I wondered, as I do many pre-dawn mornings, whether I am over- or under-dressed for the conditions. I decided I had called it just right, and headed to the closest Starbucks for an additional boost. I'd already had two cups of Blue Bottle Three Africans. As I parked, between two of the five cop cars in the lot, I saw all five officers sitting at a table inside. It was the start of their days, too. They had no idea what sort of action they'd be facing in the hours ahead. That's what's brilliant about running while almost everyone else is still in bed. As I walked by I overheard one of them mention something about some trouble he was having with his "washer and dryer". See, cops are people, too!

Along with my coffee I also had a chocolate croissant. The cheery Starbucks lass heated it up for me just a tad, making it just that more likely that some chocolate would drip out and onto my jacket. That would have been tragic. It didn't happen!

Among the many, many rarities in the city of San Francisco is free parking...right where you want it to be. I snagged such a spot across from my gym this day. Result. Happy with that, I put my earbuds in my ears and switched on my little radio. Fail. I had forgotten to check the batteries, and these had given up the ghost. I was apparently going to be left with nothing but my own thoughts for the next couple of hours. Fortunately, I had my Blackberry, so I turned the whole event into a picture-taking journey.

I started things off with a potty stop in the Ferry Building Plaza. It is usually a teeming mass of tourists and local go-getter business types. When the stalls are open you can find almost anything good to eat or drink here...and pay about twice as much as you should! However, this morning, as I started my Garmin, this is what it looked like inside...








My route of choice took me south on the Embarcadero, toward ATT Park, the home of our baseball Giants. I made one little detour, out to the end of this fishing pier. Note to self and everyone else...don't eat anything you know came from this Bay. Serious.








Having run very little in the past few weeks, it was a little tough getting into the grove. I still had not fully warmed to the challenge by the time I got to the ballpark, a little over a mile from the start. Took a moment to check my previously-injured foot here, and to snap a snap of the big mitt on display on the outfield wall.

From the stadium I turned north, heading up 3rd Street, then west to 4th, and an area called China Basin. It used to be butt-ugly. It ain't no more. Despite the current economic climate, there's big bucks being spent and made here.

Next I ran across a "street" I'd never heard of before. I'm thinking most of us would feel pretty cool if a street was named for us. I'm wondering, though, what Helen Macintosh thinks. You are looking at her namesake Lane...all of it!

Around the corner from HM Lane, I found this intersection. Again, I've never heard of these streets before today. This is one of the joys of running. The tasty discoveries you make along the way.

In order to make it to Market Street, I had to weave my way through throngs of out-of-towners, obviously on their way to a convention at Moscone Center. I gave up at one point and went into the street. Why is it that tourists leave their brains in their hotel rooms when they venture out, if they brought them from home at all?

Crossing Market I climbed up Stockton Street. This is the tunnel at the top of the hill. I didn't go through here, as I was afraid I'd loose my Garmin's connection with the heavens.

Turned right here and then left on Grant, the entrance to Chinatown. I wanted to pay homage to the herbal concoction I am sure sped my recovery up. What was disconcerting, a bit, but fun, a lot, what that most of the streets were vacant, having been shut down for some event. Never did figure out what it was.

North Beach is just north of Chinatown...and home to some amazing Italian restaurants and cafes.

I will admit to being tempted. But, I had a job to do.

I also found a Belgian restaurant I didn't know existed. Snapped a pic of the menu for my friend, Laura. She's all hot for anything Belgian. Serious.

At the top (or is it the bottom?) of Columbus Avenue, I turned west again, heading toward Fort Mason and the Marina Green. Decided the Marina would be where I turned back toward the Financial District, my car and the jacuzzi. Hit mile 8 right about here...with no pain.

That's the St. Francis Yacht Club back there. Chances are it will be hosting the next America's Cup. Don't know if you heard, but Oracle's big guy, Larry Ellison just won that little trinket. He gets to choose the next venue for the competition.

These are the Ft. Mason steps. I did run up them. I stopped to breathe again at the top...then headed down the hill towards Fisherman's Wharf. These folks will welcome just about anybody to the City...from anywhere...even pirates!

The third flag from the right is a Jolly Roger! Aye!

After the wharf, where I inhaled the smells of steamed crab and fresh baked sourdough bread (and did NOT exhale!), it was all about the last mile back down the Embarcadero, from whence I came.

At mile 8 my Garmin indicated I had been doing 12:40 miles. I was not happy with that time, even though this run was meant to test the mettle of my right foot, and not for any sort of record pace. Decided to kick things up a bit for the last two, as the foot was fine. Whittled that down to 12:09 average pace by the end. Happy with that.

Also happy with the outdoor, but covered, jacuzzi at my 24 Hour Fitness place. This, people, was what it was all about.

Having not trained much for over a month I was not certain how much gas there would be in the tank today. Apparently I have some core stuff left from last year's madness. Happy for that. Let's do us some LA, huh?

Gotta run!

MOMENTUM SHIFT

It would appear I am back in the game.

After months of being unable to actually pull the trigger on signing up for Trieste and Prague marathons in May, and three weeks of injury-caused non-running and recovery, "Mr. Mo" is back on my side as of the just-concluded weekend.

I committed to doing the marathons in Italy and the Czech Republic last fall, based on the assumption that I'd have enough credit card miles to earn another free ticket to London on Virgin Atlantic. This is how I work my travelling magic. I was a few thousand points short until VA so kindly sent me an email on February 1st alerting me to the fact they'd reduced the required number by 5K. Hallelujah! Tickets to LHR acquired this morning, along with tickets on Ryan Air from London to Venice. I then perused my hostel options in London and gleefully discovered my favourite YHA Hostel, St. Pancras, is only 20 quid a night. Now that's booked! Yahoo. Since wrapping up the 12/12 last December in Santa Barbara, I have needed to lock this stuff down for my own daily version of sanity. Done. Dusted.

I have not been utterly goal-less since December, however. I have paid my big bucks to run the new Los Angeles Marathon course on my birthday weekend (3/21). I am looking very much forward to doing that one and staying in the YHA Hostel in Santa Monica. This puppy's just a couple of blocks from the beach-end of the course, a few more blocks from a big 24 Hour Fitness Club that has whirlpool and saunas, and only costs about $25 a night.

I got a fright 3 weeks ago, though, when I suffered my first ever running injury while attempting 8 miles in my VFF's. Stress fractured my 3rd metatarsyl in my right foot. I was seriously concerned that recovery would not happen fast enough for me to see LA through. However, thanks to friends' suggestions that I try a Chinese herb concoction they had found to be effective, I have now been pain free for 3 days. Did a treadmill test run of 3 miles yesterday and officially declared the foot good to go. So, it looks like LA is on.

I have also been seriously considering signing up for the inaugural Oakland Marathon, just down the road a piece, the week after LA. Sadly, I am leaning now toward pulling out of that one in an effort to be kind to my foot, with races in Europe in mind. Also, the Oakland event entrance fee is over $100 now, and I'm thinking I would do better having that cash on hand, again, for Europe. Also, since Oakland is my hometown area, I can run these streets anytime I want to...for free. I know some folks will be dissappointed that I am not going to partake in all that Oakland has to offer (some serious hill work!!), but I plan on being on the sidelines and the finish for them that day. I will be springing for some congratulatory brews at Quinn's Lighthouse, people.

All in all, I'm thinking things are looking up. I am feeling good feeling good. Ready to kick up the training again (slowly but surely). Hoping to get back up to at least a 15-16 mile long run before LA...and then fully train for the back-to-backs across the Pond. Big thanks to everyone on Twitter, Daily Mile, Just Finish, and Facebook who sent me encouragement and support during the healing process. Your kind thoughts were little treasures. A special thanks also goes out to my wife. She put up with 3 weeks of "whining", she claims. Hmm. Really? Serious?

Oh, by the way. In case you missed it. By way of tooting my horn, which I am not fond of doing, a delightful article was written about my 12/12 and posted on Examiner.com. Here's the link to that. Check it out a couple of times, if you could. The writer gets paid based on hits (I think). Thanks, Mira, for your nice work. Check her other stuff out here.

Meanwhile....

Gotta run!

WALKING MY TALK

My stepson is off to live off the land in Hawaii for, he says, at least six months. He speaks of building shelters, slaying wild boar, and an abundance of fresh "for the picking" fruit. He's at that point in his young life that "invincibility" is more of a lifestyle than an abstract concept. I am not there. I am dealing these days with the 'vincibility' of it all.

If you're a frequent visitor here you will know I am all about the slow. I won't say I'm about the easy, as I've run 30 marathons in the past nearly 8 years, and none of them have been easy. But I do take great strides to make that endevour as safe and sane as possible. I don't run hard. I don't even train hard. I train long. I train steady. And, I am a big fan of rest days. I learned from Jeff Galloway that the rest is as important, if not more so, than the running days. One makes the other possible. The other makes the other-other, necessary. It's easier to believe that way when one has a choice.

I hurt myself a couple of weeks ago, to the point where I have not run since. I am guessing I am still a week away from hitting the pavement again. I have determined I have a minor stress fracture of my third metatarsyl in my right foot, not a broken or sprained toe. Physically, I am improving daily. However, I am not getting better when it comes to dealing, mentally, with the layoff. The itch to lace up my trusty Brooks Beasts and head out for a nice, pre-dawn 6 mile hill run is intensifying. Forced rest is crap.

The reason I bring all this up, rather than just lock myself in my curtains-drawn bedroom, watching Kate Beckinsale or Robert Downey, Jr. movies, is that I have read some stuff from other online runners recently that just makes me scratch my nearly-bald head. I realize that I am older than most folks currently caught up in this distance running thing and, therefore, have to be a bit more careful with my bones and stuff. But I would like to think that I have gleaned a modicum of wisdom from my thousands of miles in running shoes, minimal and otherwise.

I read of one runner suffering with recurring shin splints who, instead of taking a few days rest to allow those micro-fractures to heal, was turning to athletic tape. I have researched this stuff for a while and, I'll admit, I just don't get it. I am sure there are some of you who swear by the stuff. Seems to me it masks the injury, rather than allowing it time to fix what's broke! I know it supposedly increases blood flow to the injured area...but I'm a sucker for the old fashioned RICE concept.

Another runner spoke of his new training plan, consisting of six days of short runs and another day of the long stuff. No mention of rest. A formula for disaster, in my humble opinion. I hope, for his sake, that all goes well. I sincerely hope his efforts turn him into the next world record breaker. My fear, however, is that, sooner, rather than later, he'll be joining me, watching all those DVD's we didn't have time to view when we COULD run.

This being "vincible" thing is frustrating. But, it is serious business. In the same week I had my first motorcycle crash and sustained my first running injury. I am lucky to be able to still get on my bike. In a few more days I am hoping to be able to get into my running shoes again. I have learned more than I really wanted to about being mortal.

Gotta run!

QUIK UPDATE

I have washed them, dried them, and now they are hanging up.

I blame them at least a little for my current, first-ever running injury. I mostly blame me for being a dumb ass for trying to go too far in them for the particular day of training.

I have the Los Angeles and Oakland marathons in March, and don't feel like doing anything to jeopardize my ability to do them. Think I will be backing away from my beloved VFFs for a while.

I am fairly certain the injury is nothing more than a painful sprain. I am waiting a few days to see if the "ouch factor" declines. If it doesn't I will have to go the doc.

Meanwhile, wine is helping.

Wanting to run!