CHOICE MADE...CLUES ONE...AND TWO!

In my previous blog post I may have led you astray. Just wanted to clear things up. I have NOT quit Janathon...oh, my, my, no! It's been too much fun connecting with new people at home for that. I've just decided to let everyone else win!!! That's just how I am.

I did run today, for the first time in about a week. Three crazy-slow, hilly miles beginning and ending outside my gym. During my trek, in my "barefoot shoes" I was listening to Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode's BBC Radio 2 film review podcast on my trusty iPod...and was left in a smidge of a nagging quandry.

Dr. K is my favourite film guy. He has an unhealthy affection for "The Exorcist"...but he also acknowledges the brilliance of my all time fave flick, "Brassed Off!." Now...he's come out liking "Blue Valentine" which I really wanted to see until my friend Dave, whose opinion I also respect, told me it was rubbish. Now what do I do? Have you seen it?

Anyway...in other news. It did not take me long, but I have chosen my 2011 marathon. If you missed the previous post, I shall reiterate. I am going to run another mary this year...but I'm not going to reveal which one...until it's over! If you want to try to guess where I'm going before anyone else, and win yourself a smart and sexy Just Finish technical running shirt, check back here for the clues. Here are the first two.

1. I have never run in this city before.

2. It's in the Northern Hemisphere.

Off you go!

Gotta run!

CONCESSION..MYSTERY..AND A GIVEAWAY

I am ready to admit it. There are very few things I can commit to doing every flippin' day.

Drinking two cups of coffee, first thing. That one you can bank on, full stop. Checking my e-mail and my Facebook page. Two other sure things. That may be about all I am able, or willing, to commit to. That leaves a lot of stuff, while attractive and inspiring in many cases, subject to not much more than whim or mood of the day.

This does not bode well for my Janathon adventure. The goal there was, seriously, to run or walk or ride everyday in January and then blog a bit about the day's achievement. My intent was pure and good. My follow through has been dismal. I am officially accepting that...and conceding. I will NOT be taking home the gold at the end of this month.

I am more than willing to go on epic bike rides between now and the end of the month, and will try to log as many miles I'm able, with that and running and walking. I could even possibly rack up more miles than anyone else, but I will not have done it according to the proper guidelines.

My best wishes go out to all the Janathon participants who are still in the hunt for glory! I will be watching, reading your blogs, and cheering you on. If there was even a chance that I might have been able to take part in the post-Janathon celebration in London in February I might have stayed true to the game...but that's not happening.

And then...there's this. In order to keep myself moving at some level of respectable pace for the better part of the rest of 2011, I am telling myself that I will run another marathon this year. However, once I've chosen it, I am going to keep it a secret. The way it's going to work is...I am going to do some research, pick a great destination race, train, FINISH...and then, just like at the end of a home-makeover show on television, there will be the big "reveal."

So, just think...one day later this year, you'll get to wake up one morning, wipe the sleep from your eyes, pour your cup of morning joe, and check the runners' blogs you check...and learn that I've done it again. Won't that be awesome for you?? Okay, maybe not. But that's how I'm doing it.

I may drop a clue every now and then...and you can try to guess where I'm going. And get this...if you're the first one to get it...BEFORE I run, I'll give you a free membership in the Just Finish group AND a brand new Just Finish running shirt. Truth told, membership in Just Finish is always free and you can (and really should) sign up now. We're a fun bunch of athletes. You could make it that much more fun! Check it out, huh? See you there.

By the way, don't guess yet. I haven't chosen my race. And...thanks to Kevin at Just Finish, for providing the awesome prize!

Gotta run!

NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

(First off I must say I absolutely HATE Blogger! I have tried three different browsers and none of them will let me put these pics where I want them. Arrgh! You'll have to connect the not-too-difficult dots. Sorry!)

NOW! After my miserable attempt at a three mile run earlier this week I was afeared that I'd aged over the last year of inactivity to the point where the damage could not be repaired. However, somehow, awoke this morning with an itchin' to get on my bike, despite the frigid temps.

After adorning myself in various weather-appropriate velo-garb, strapped on the Garmin 305, and stashed the Blackberry and a camera in the bike-bag-on-the-back, I headed out the door. I told my wife I had a couple of ideas about where I'd be going, but added that I could be gone all day...or back in 20 minutes.

Fortunately for my sense of self-esteem, it turned out to be the former. 3:08, 35 miles...1 cup of Blue Bottle Coffee...one potty stop (pictured above!)...no near-accidents...one beer and a companion sandwich...and one public transit trip home.

Destination One was the my temple of coffee, about 8 miles from my house, just off of Oakland's Chinatown. If I haven't convinced you over the past couple of years that it's the best coffee on the planet then...you're hopeless. I'm sorry.

From there it was through a part of the city known as Oakland's Riveria. It looks nothing like its European namesake, believe me. Just our little stateside way of having a bit of a lark!

Then it was across the High Street Bridge into the "island city" of Alameda. I was a good boy and followed the signed instruction to "dismount" on the bridge. Then headed to the beach side of the city where I rode until I could ride no more without answering the call of Mother Nature. She was screaming at me to find a potty. Thus, again, said picture above.

Sufficiently and completely relieved, it was over the Harbor Bay Isle bridge into another part of Alameda and then into Oakland again...this time riding along the edge of the International Airport, and past the actual airfield from which Amelia Erhart took off on her ill-fated around the world journey.

After that, it was straight down Doolittle Drive to Marina in San Leandro, a sharp right turn, and then out to the city's Marina, oddly enough, and then out onto the Bay Trail, through the amazing bayside wetlands and then down into Hayward. It was not long until I spied the downtown area, that, over the past 15 years or so has had quite a resurgence.

The last time I was at Buffalo Bills was about that long ago...and it has come a long, long way. It was the first brewpub to open in California when restrictions on such things were lifted. Back then it was reminded me of a place where ill-tempered biker gangs might meet to rumble outside. Not so much anymore. Perhaps best known for their "Alimony Ale"...there are always any number of other selections available. Good stuff.

It was 32 miles to this point. After the brewpub, it was a two block ride to BART that took me to within 3 miles of home. Rode the 3 to bring my total to 35 for the day. I'll take it. Please apply to my Janathon total! Thank you.

Gotta...run?

WEIGHT A MINUTE

I should be running today, to keep up with my Janathon commitment...but, alas, it ain't happening.

It would seem that my feets are none to pleased with my recent return to the game. They protests a bit.

I remember about ten years ago, when my stepdaughter and I were running the Portland Marathon, she told me she'd read that for every pound one weighs, their body takes the pounding of 4 times that with every running step. At that time that put me at about 800 pounds! No wonder I was so slow. I got down to 173 at my very healthiest during my 12 in 12 in 2009. Since then, not so much. After a year or so of slacking, I'm pretty much back up there again.

That wouldn't be that "big" of a deal if it wasn't for the fact that I have sworn off my padded running shoes in favour of my Vibram Five Fingers, that I call my "barefoot shoes." All that extra poundage pounding on my size 9.5's (44's for my readers back home) is taking its toll. The little bones on the top of my left foot are in pain, and urging me to take it easy.

The only running injury I have ever had was sustained in early 2010 in my VFFs...when I did too much one day, while on an eight miler that should have ended at six. That sidelined me for upwards of six weeks. Don't want that again. I don't mind not running so much when it's my choice. Injury negates that option.

I am, however, hoofin' it to work and back from San Francisco's bus terminal...which is about a mile and a half...so I get three miles, right? My feet aren't the boss of me.

Tomorrow...

Gotta run!

COMMENCE JANATHON

Got up this morning and stepped right into it. My Janathon experiment, that is.

It's only 2 January, and I felt if I followed my heart and remained cocooned inside my cozy abode, safe away from all chilly winter downpour, that I'd fall so terribly behind that I might never get started. So...loaded the gym bag and headed to 24 Hour Fitness.

I have written before that I'm not one who usually goes for inspiration from other people, feeling that if I don't own my own mojo I should just stay home. This morning was one of those rare occasions when I drew from the energy of others. I knew there were a bunch of intrepid souls who also signed up for Janathon who ran yesterday and would probably run again today. I did NOT want to get smoked by you lot!

Judging my the lack of a sweaty crowd at 9am in my gym, it would appear that lots of folks have already packed it in when it comes to that get fit New Year's resolution. Only four of the 24 treadmills on offer were in use. I chose one quickly and spent a good 32 minutes on it, pounding out a 3 miler, while listening to the latest BBC 2 Chris Evans and Simon Mayo podcasts.

After that, moved on to do 2000 (yes, 2K!) ab crunches. I know it sounds like a lot, and I always get questions about how I manage so many...but I just do. The funny thing is, you'd think I'd have a tight six pack of ab muscles as a result...but, seriously, not so bleeding much!

That's it, really. Off and running.

Wishing the rest of the Janathoners an "awesome" (we use that word a lot over here!!) month...and a brill 2011.

Gotta run!

DONE WITH IT

Hey, 2010...don't let the door slam you in the butt on the way out, huh?

I know it's only December 28th, but I'm pulling the plug on your ass right now. That way I have three days unmolested by your crap to get ready for your younger brother, 2011. I already like him more than I ever liked you, if for no other reason than sheer potential.

You and I are no longer Facebook friends and I'm not following you anymore on Twitter. As a matter of fact, I am blocking you on both.

I will be spending the next few days figuring out how to get myself back into shape, physically and mentally. There have been thoughts of late about asking my doctor for anti-bummed-out meds, but think I'll wait a bit more on that. Wondering if what I really need is to pump up my endorphin levels with a return to some sort of regular exercise. After pretty much not running for a solid year, after nine years of near-constant marathon training, I think those levels have been all but depleted.

In the last couple of weeks I've been back on the bike, doing a number of 20 mile rides. They've not been hard, but they've not been the piece of cake they used to be. During this week's big ride I realized that the reason it was hard was that physically I'm kind of a wreck. I'm back up to the weight I was when I ran my first marathon in 2003. My heart sank when I saw the bathroom scale needle pushing 195 again. At my most fit I've been 20 pounds lighter than that.

So, it's back to square one.

Don't expect to see reports of 20 mile runs anytime soon. I think it's back to 3-5 milers...and figuring out how to do it all again. I am sticking with my commitment to only running in my VFFs, so added caution is required in that regard.

One thing I am doing is taking part in a month long "competition" with a bunch of online friends in the UK, called Janathon. It's a low-key kind of "let's see what we can do" thing, and it's a way for me to keep in touch with what's happening in the old country. Should be a hoot. Oh, and there are PRIZES! (Wouldn't mind if some other stateside folks would sign up, by the way!)

All in all, 2010 has been about too much mental and physical weight. 2011 will be about lightening up.

Gotta run...gotta ride.

THE SEARCH FOR NEW NORMAL

For nine of the past ten years, normal, for me, has been about dreaming about running marathons...training for them...travelling to the venue cities...finishing the race...and starting all over again. This year, there has been no normal.

Long story short, lost a twelve year job in March, then spent much of the subsequent nine months dog-paddling in treacherous financial waters...until finally going under. That process included many sleepless nights, cold-sweat wake-ups at 2am, mad scramble job searches on line, a number of job interviews that did not pan out, all while angling for as many hours as I could snatch back among my big city radio newsroom colleagues. I could have survived quite nicely, thanks very much, without every one of those...except the latter.

During that time I have not run much. I have done a few stress-relief jogs, one official half marathon, and have utililized my gym membership to minimal advantage. I've rediscovered 12-15 pounds that I previously thought I'd vanquished...and placed them under my belt for safe keeping. 2010 has been mostly about bouncing off walls...with very little padding.

I have made a number of visits to this blog to make grand proclamations...among them, learning to swim, swearing off my running shoes in full-time favour of my Vibram Five Fingers, and committing to a return to the marathon world in Austin in February. I have stayed true to the VFF's plan, I rarely get my feet wet unless it's in a jacuzzi, and I'm not sure a trip to Austin is a wise investment, considering the current economy. I believe now those were attempts to inject some control...some "normal"...into an out-of-wack situation. I'm learning just how little real control I have.

The goal now is not necessarily to regain control, but to find the new normal in the madness, despite that madness, a way to be content with the changes that were forced upon me and mine. I have no idea to what degree running, marathons or otherwise, will fit into the new scheme. I only know I will not stop running altogether. And, I surely will NOT stop following the exploits of the hundreds...really, hundreds...of runners whom I count as friends, who've provided so much inspiration and support over the past decade.

The new normal, I think, is going to be about running like a kid again...maybe even leaving the Garmin at home once in a while. It's going to be about growing some of our own food in our new organic-only city-owned garden plot. It's going to be about becoming a "foodie" again, spending more time in the kitchen with my lovely wife. It's going to be about writing my marathon book.

In the past month or so I have posted on line, on Twitter and/or Facebook, at least three times, that I've been "trying" to get back into this running thing. Twice I've gotten the response that "there's no trying...there's just doing." I would like to state, without reservation, that I could NOT disagree more. I believe there are times in life when "try" is all we have. For those of you who've never been there...believe me...I will believe you, if and when you do. "Do" is great...but sometimes good is as good as it gets.

Gotta run!