2007 - Lessons Learned

2007 was a very good year for my running. Even in the good years you can learn lessons. Here are some that I learned this year.

A proper fitting shoe! This is THE number one lesson. The blisters in Arizona told me that. I had not been in the shoes long, and I was not aware of what my feet were doing in the shoes. So I found the Brooks Dyad. That shoes has served me well; however, I am finding that shoe has led to my heal pain. So I am in search of a new shoe. Afterall our feet are our tools, and we need to be sure they are taken care of.

The importance of good training. The lesson from the Arizona marathon was I could do better, and that would mean better training, I am so glad I joined the marathon training program at my gym. I pushed my body, but in a healthy way, and I know I could have finished strong in Chicago had the conditions been better.

Support! This seems easy, but it is often over looked. Those family and friends who come out to support you, or encourage you are SO important. I could not have finished Phoenix without Marshall's, Q's and Anne's support. My road crew at the Chicago Half Marathon of Mark, Sarah, Cecilia, Chloe and Mark(I know more than one), spurred me on to a PR in the half.

Getting through the Chicago Marathon would have been FAR more difficult without Mark, Krys, George, Matt and my running guru Spencer.

Running can be a very isolating sport, but the support you get makes it so much better. Value and treasure those who support you.

Running with people. I have not always been a fan of running with people. But I came around a bit when I ran with my cousin Polly in Green Bay, and of course with my training group in Chicago. I have also ran some fun runs at Fleet Feet, and know there is a time for serious running, but the fun times with others is very good.

I also learned how much I miss running when I am not running. The heal pain and not running these last few weeks has made me grumpy. Never fear, I have plans for a New Year's Day run...be it treadmill or road!

So there are my lessons. I will get back to writing more on the blog. Afterall, my last lesson is that I love sharing my passion with others, and love the feedback as well.

May all of you have a happy and healthy new year!

Charlie

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to make sure to wish one and all a Merry Christmas.

I am in Wisconsin visiting relatives and have a wonderful time. No running at the moment, but am ok with that. I think I have found out what has been the issue with me heal, so I am looking into some new shoes.

Anyway, I will make my big push for running full force in January, so I can get ready for the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile.

In the meantime Merry Christmas to all!

Charlie

The Weather Wimp!

As most of you know by now I am a weather wimp. Our temperatures have been in the teens this week. I don't run outdoors in that cold a weather. Brrrr....so my running has been on the treadmill.

The problem with the treadmill is that it is so incredibly boring. Thank goodness for The Food Network. I love to watch that as I run. No I don't get hungry watching it. I treat it as pleasant background to my running. - especially Paula Deen! She is a hoot!

Podcasts help me with the boredom too. The running podcasts are especially helpful.

I am still recovering form the plantar facism as I call it. The pain is better, and I can run some, but serious running won't start for a couple weeks, when it is time to train.

I have gained weight, but it is not a critical mass yet....just means I will be working hard come training time.

Charlie

Hero Worship

As a boy my sports heroes were Joe Montana, Mark Spitz, Bruce Jenner, Jack Nicklaus, Dorothy Hamil and Olga Korbut. To me these folks did amazing things and I was in awe of them. All of these athletes performed at what I call a superhuman level.

While those folks are still heroes, I can add people like Tiger Woods, Deena Kastor, Dean Karnazes, Ryan Hall, Tom Brady, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and many more. I have to admit though these days I am a bit leery of having sports heroes. Why? Because I am not sure if it is the athlete performing the superhuman feat, or is it the drugs they are on?

I want to be in so much awe of Lance Armstrong, but there are too many whispers. I want to be so impressed by Michael Phelps, but I worry that his Olmypic success might be tainted. Marion Jones and Floyd Landis have already disappointed me, so I am hesitant to find new sports heroes.

We need sports heroes though. We need to feel that rush of excitement as a runner speeds down the track to a new world record. We need to cheer as our quarterback throws that winning pass into the end zone. We need to thrill as a talented basketball player leaps into the air to dunk the ball.

I agree with Charles Barkley, sports stars should not be role models. However, they should be mindful of more than the all mighty buck in their obscene quest using steroids or other illegal drugs.

My feeling is either crack down hard on all users, or allow the drugs to everyone. Why anyone would want to do that to their body is a mystery to me.

I want my heroes to be real though.

Charlie

Speedy 5K

I hit the gym and ran a great 5K today. I ran the 3.1 miles in 35:53, which is good for me.

Afterwards I went for a 30 minute massage. I was not able to have the full and painful treatment on my right heal, but the therapist worked at loosening up the muscles and tissues. It was sore while she did it, but I felt good after.

So all in all it felt like a normal running day!

Charlie

First Race of 2008

I am all registered and ready to go....I will be running the Cherry Blossom 10 MIle Race in Washington, D.C. in April. Woo Hoo! It took me forever this morning, but my registration finally went through. I finally feel like I have something to shoot for.

So D.C. folks...I'm coming over to run!

Charlie

A Bit of Pain...

Yes...I had a bit of heal pain this evening, but I managed to run 3 miles in a respectable 34:42. Not too bad for not running much over the last month. I have felt very sluggish and gross, so this run felt like I was getting crap out of my system. Woo hoo!

Tomorrow I am hoping to register for my first race of 2008. If I am successful I will announce it tomorrow.

I need some goals, because I am feeling very lost fitness wise.

Charlie

Tis the Season....

Because it is Christmas time, this is the season we get swamped with mail form charities to donate. I get several a day. Some I throw out, some I will give some money.

Steve Runner talks about running with "a noble purpose." This is an attitude I have adopted as well. I have run in the past for charities, and will continue to do so in the future. Since I do not always have time to volunteer, I like to use my running on occasion to raise money for a good cause.

I encourage all of you to at least dedicate one race in 2008 to raising money for a worthy cause.

Here is a list of some of the causes I support:

Marathon Kids
Grameen
Heifer International
CARE
Kiva
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Ethembeni School

There are others I support, but that is a good start. My next year will be dedicated to two of the charities - The Ethembeni School in South Africa and Marathon Kids.

http://www.marathonkids.org/

http://www.ethembenischool.org/

If you are so inclined please give to these very worthy charities. If none of these interest you, please give to one that resonates with you. If you would like to share which one(s) you support, please feel free to talk about them here.

Charlie

Feeling Human

I made it to the gym today and ran for a bit. I ran 1.46 miles and felt pretty good. I am wearing insoles which seem to be working pretty well.

I also biked 4.64 miles. This also felt good.

My mood improved considerably when I left the gym. I felt like a human again. I think my running will be slow going for a while as I heal, but I think I can slowly get back into the swing of things. The key is not to push anything, which I am famous for doing.

Ahhhhh.....

Charlie

So Where Am I

I am trying everything I can at this point to get healthy again. I'm not liking this not running thing, but I have to remember I want to be able to run for a long time. Patience with healing is not my strong suit.

I miss the running. Again work kept me from going to the gym today. How the heck did I train for two marathons???

My diet is crap right now.....and that is getting me down too. I need some goal, and I am floundering. HELP!

I am happy the new running magazines are out. I gain so much from them. I subscribe to Runner's World and Running Times. Love them both.

Ok...until I can run again, I need to come up with some interesting topics for all of you fine folks. Let me give it some thought.

:-)Charlie

World AIDS Day

Normally I write about running. Today is a different post. Today is World AIDS Day, a time to remember that AIDS is still a scourge we have to fight.

Today, as every World AIDS Day I remember my childhood friend Dave. Dave and I went through school together, lost track of each other in college, and then renewed our friendship years later. He died of AIDS related causes in 1994. He was taken far too soon from this Earth, and I miss him still.

While much has been done to fight AIDS, there is still much to be done. I encourage all of you to advocate on behalf of people with AIDS to make sure programs are properly funded, and that these people have all the care and support they can get.

Peace,
Charlie