I Am a Runner - Really

Not a big secret that I love running. I love this sport like I love no other, and I also love the community of runners. What I don't like are the running snobs, as I call them. These are the folks who think anything less than what they believe about running just is not running.

I run/walk, yet I am a runner. To the snobs though, I am not a true runner. I have heard conversations where running snobs talk about run/walk as not running. If you aren't running an entire race, then you aren't running. BULL!

No, I didn't run cross country or track in school. No, I have not qualified for Boston. No, I can't recite the running times of the top five fastest milers.

Instead I have a love of running. I get pure joy when I head out for a run. My feeling about the walking part is that I am moving forward, giving some muscles a rest. I have not stopped running because I am walking, nor am I going backwards.

So what brought this rant on? Over the last week or so I have listened to conversations by customers in the store who are running snobs. I guess I got tired of their hooey, and thought I would get on my soapbox a bit.

I will never run a 2:06 marathon, but my time out on the course will be just as important, and I will work about 4 hours harder to achieve my goal. So take that running snobs!

Charlie

12 Miles into the Past

Today's 12 mile run had me go from home to Willmette, back through Evanston, and then home. Overall I felt good on this run. I managed to maintain the 8/1 interval. It helped temps were in the mid 50s this morning. It felt darned good out there.

The run had me go through parts of Evanston I had not really seen. Lovely neighborhoods, and people all happy this morning. I got a lot of "Good Morning" comments out there.

Along the run I went past one of the most important places in my life - The Cradle. The Cradle is the adoption agency where my sister and I came from. In fact, my adoption anniversary will be coming up in the next week or so. My sister's was last week. The Cradle is a special place, and as I ran by it, I thought two things: first it is a beautiful place; second, how lucky the babies who live there, that will get placed in good homes.

http://www.cradle.org/

Every now and then I am asked if I am interested in looking for my birth mother. The only time I have considered it was when I turned 40. That was a fleeting thought though. There was a reason I was put up for adoption. I can only assume it was a difficult decision my birth mother has lived with, but why re-open it all my looking for her? I don't feel I am missing anything - life is good.

So after my run into time, I focused on my actual running. I felt no pain. The running was a bit labored and choppy though. I will work on running a bit smoother this week.

Charlie

6 Miles

Rain outside had me indoors for my 6 mile run. It actually was a good run at the gym. I ran hard, and went faster than my normal pace. I wanted to work on speed this time, without going nuts on speed. My pace was 11:54/mile. As you may know, my marathon is going to be slower than that, but I think it helps me to have some speed for times when I will need to make up some time during the race.

I really did not get tired, and my body felt good. All in all this was a successful run for me. It gives me confidence as I head to the long run later this week.

I have a 12 mile run a head of me. I haven't run that distance since the half marathon, but I am feeling very confident that I will be fine out there. No worries.

This weekend is the Chicago Triathlon. I have to make a route which will keep me far from that crowd.

Charlie

Not an Angry Run

I was in a really bad mood at work today. By bad mood....I mean BAD MOOD. I think there was a convergence of working 8 days in a row, and various issues at work which really pissed me off.

After work I decided to head to the gym for a run. I felt it would be an angry run, where I was just mad the whole time. In the end it wasn't. I ran a good 4 miles around an 11:53/mile pace. So it was a quick pace.

Did I think about the day? No...I actually thought about having the next two days off, and spending some quality time with Mark. I have hardly seen him this week, and it has made for an edgy house.

I am also glad to have this cold thingy over with. I hate being sick, and running while hacking up lungs would not have been good.

So a 4 mile run is in the books. I have a 6 mile and a 12 mile this week.

Charlie

Good News - New Balance

Yesterday I was asked to represent my store in Boston at a meeting of top running stores at New Balance HQ. New Balance invited "elite" stores around the country (a.k.a. top running store accounts) to come to their facilities and see how they research, design, and put together shoes and clothing.

Very excited about this for two reasons: first, I have never been to Boston, and have always wanted to visit; second, I think this will be a great learning opportunity for me. I will get to see what is coming down the pipeline, meet with designers, talking with marketing folks, and still get to see some of Boston. I am told we will get to see a Boston Red Sox game. The minute I heard about that, I thought of Steve Runner, and his love of the Red Sox.

The trip will be in a few weeks, and I just can't wait.

On the running front, a cold has really sidetracked me this week. I'm ok with this, since it was a cutback week. I am going to focus on getting better, and ramping for next week.

Charlie

Fast Run

This morning I toed the line ready to run. Once I started I was unstoppable. I ran the 100m in 9.58 seconds. Wait a minute....I'm not Usain Bolt.

Still my run was a bit faster than normal. I will be honest I have felt crappy all day - headache, sinus problems, and all I wanted to do was get a run in and be done with it. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill in 35:55. That is speedy for me these days. I thought about going one more mile, but to be honest, I just felt like I wanted off and be done with the run.

This week is a cut back week. I have two 6 mile runs ahead of me, so those will be my main focus this week. Next week the miles move up again.

Other than feeling like I am fighting some sickness, I am good. My body is feeling good. My hips feel fine. I plan on making an appointment soon with Dr. Natarajan so he can tell me what he thinks.

Taking it easy is the order of the day, so I am going to rest, and be fresh and ready for the next run.

Charlie

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

With the Air and Water Show on the lakefront, I decided to try another route this morning for my 10 mile run. I created a route from my home to Wrigley Field(home of the Chicago Cubs) and back. Not crowded at all on the route....until I got to the ball park. There is a game today, so folks were already out.

Today's run went pretty well. I felt good during the entire run. No music, but I was humming a tune from the musical "Nine." Odd choice, but that what was in my head.

Parts of the run was angry running. I don't like angry running, but I think in the end it helps me work some aggression out. What is angry running? That is when your thoughts are about things which are really pissing you off. You know, like the horrible roommate who eats your food, or the customer at work who treated you like dirt, or even the rude comment someone made in passing that has stuck with you. Those thoughts get in your head, and you just have to work through them somehow. I typically run a little harder and faster when I am angry running, which is not always a good thing. It wears you out.

I won't share what my angry running was, but I will say I felt a bit better after the run. So I suppose it works.

Next week's long run is 6 miles - a cutback week.

Charlie

Run for Sabrina

Today I ran a great 6 miles. I headed towards Andersonville, and did 3 miles there and 3 miles back. The weather was good and sunny, and it was just fine for a 6 mile run.

My thoughts though during the run turned to my youngest niece, Sabrina. She is one of the sweetest children you will ever meet. She has Downs Syndrome, and has a number of issues going against her. One of those issues is her eye sight.

Tomorrow she is having eye surgery to attempt to correct and strengthen her eye muscles. If successful, she will see so much better and clearly. So as I ran, I prayed that all would go well the the surgery. I thought about how she really doesn't understand what is going on, and how would you explain it to her?

My sister took her to Miami today for the surgery. I wish I could be there. I hate for my sister to go through this alone. I also hope Sabrina won't be scared.

As I ran I thought about how much joy she brings, and how loving she is. I just want everything to be ok for my little pumpkin.

Charlie

I Am a Geek

Yes...I admit to all of you. I am a running geek. Of course you already knew that. I run. I work in a running store. I write a running blog. To that end, I got that thrill up and down my spine the other day. I ordered my next pair of shoes.

There is something very cool about getting your running shoes. I won't be wearing them right away, but I will be needing them soon. So a shiny pair of Brooks Dyads in a size 8.5 4E are on their way. When they come, it will be like Christmas. I will tear open that package, and there will be my new shoes looking all nice and new.

I have also ordered some all terrain shoes from New Balance. I like to have a rugged shoe or boot for the fall/winter. So again, I will be all geeky when they come.

Anyone else like this?

Charlie

Sometimes You Are the Inspiration

I have commented many times who inspires me. Running wise I look to people like Dean Karnazes, Joan Benoit Samuelson, or Dick Beardsley. In the non-running world, I am in awe of Nelson Mandela. The common thread in all these people is that they have all been put to the test, and have been a success. We don't think of ourselves as inspiring others, at least I don't normally think I inspire people. Today I was reminded that sometimes YOU are the inspiration.

A woman and her partner were in our store today. I recognized them, as customers I had helped, but it wasn't until the woman in question spoke to me. "You probably don't remember me," she began. About two years ago she and her partner were in the store to get shoes. Her partner was training for a marathon, and this woman was running, but was worried about being slow.

Over the course of my interaction with her, I shared my story of running. I talked about being obese, and how running saved my life. I told her, while I am slow, the goal is to run, and when racing to finish. What she does not remember is that I did see her a few months later at a half marathon. I remember her waving at me.

Today she told me that it was our initial conversation which inspired her to run and enter races. She has run some half marathons since we met. Now she is training for her first marathon - Chicago. She told me she still was not very fast, but she remembered I told her fast did not matter, as long as she was running.

I smiled and thanked her for her kind words. She told me it meant a lot to her that I shared my story, and she was truly inspired by me to run. I admit to being overwhelmed by such comments. I don't think we ever realize the impact we make in other people's lives. Certainly I don't. We think we just live our lives, and that is that. It isn't just that though. We do make a difference, and I am so pleased I was able to make a difference in this woman's life.

Charlie

41 Years of Missing David

I was 5 going on 6 when it happened. 41 years ago today my brother died tragically - he was struck by lightening. My brother David was 16 when he died. My brother was my parents only biological child. They were so proud of him. He was a straight A student. He excelled in basketball, golf, and any other sporting endeavor he put his mind to. He was a model older brother to me.

My memories of him are few, but those I have I cherish. David always had time for me. I remember him playing with me in the yard, or giving me horsey back rides around the house. In return, I was thrilled when Mom would take me to his basketball games. He was a great player, and I know college scouts had an eye on him.

His death left a huge void in our family. I don't think my parents ever recovered. There was so much hurt left behind by his death. Growing up I wanted to make my parents proud of me, like they had been of David, but it just never seemed like I achieved it. David was sports. I was the arts. He was straight A's. I was a B student. I was in the shadow of a ghost, and that was hard for me. No matter what I did, I could not quite do it or so it appeared. It took me a long time, and a ton of therapy later to realize, that I should have just focused on being me. Of course having hindsight, and no ability to time travel, I can't go back and tell that little boy, that it was ok he wasn't like his brother.

My efforts at golf were futile, at least as far as my dad was concerned. I enjoyed golf and still do, but I did not do well at it. So my shared experience with my dad involved watching sports. We have gone to Notre Dame football games, hockey games, golf matches and the Olympics. I tried to fish with my dad, but that just bored me to death. Still no matter what I tried it was not the same for him.

For my own sanity I had to find my own niche in the world. Running, as I am sure you can guess has helped in that respect. While my dad does not understand the point of entering a race you know you won't win, I believe if David were alive, he would be thrilled with my running, and who knows, maybe run a race or two with me.

My sister is a big fan of my running...or so she tells me(hehehe). She was with my at my first half marathon. She got me my first running watch. She has made sure I get Runner's World each year. Now if I could just get her to run.

There have been times David has been on my mind during runs. I like to think that he is looking down on me as I could along, and every now and then gets me moving when I need to move.

I love him and miss him still all these years later.

Charlie

3 Miles and 3 Months

Today marks 3 months until the marathon in Indianapolis. The celebrate this occasion I ran 3 miles today. It was a rainy icky mess outside, so I headed to the gym to run on the treadmill. I was supposed to do a couple more miles, but I will confess I was tired after a long day at work.

I'm not too upset about not getting the miles I was "supposed" to this week. The half marathon took more out of my than I thought. Now that I am a bit rested, I can plunge into next week's running feeling better.

I am also looking for one more half marathon to do before the marathon. Not sure which one.

Still I am feeling good. I am recovered from the race. I think I just needed extra rest.

Charlie

Slow Day - 4 Miles

Yesterday the goal was 6 miles. I ran 4, and I was fine with that. My ankles were still stiff from the half marathon. I made sure I was not pushing anything too hard, which is why I decided at the 2 mile mark to turn around and head back.

I ran the route from work towards the Chicago River, which is a nice run through the Ravenswood and then on to the park along the river. Plenty of folks were out enjoying the day. One kid in a stroller yelled, " Go!" I thought that was cute.

Not sure if I will get all the runs in this week. My body is telling me to rest, and I think I will listen to it. I will try to get one more run in this week though.

Charlie

Rock n Roll Chicago - This is One Heavy Medal

The inaugural Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon is in the books. Yesterday was sunny and in the 60s at the start. As I expected it warmed up pretty quickly. Almost 15,000 started the race. This was a wave start. So were all entered into corrals based on our expected finish times. I was pretty far back in the pack. This was my first wave start. It felt a bit annoying to start and stop thing all the way up to the start line. I was very glad to get going.

The course started in Grant Park and then headed to the Loop. Runners zig zagged through the streets of Chicago. There were folks out cheering us on, and it was nice to see people with signs for their loved ones. I liked this part of the course. Too bad more of it was not in the city.

After Mile 4, the course meanders to the Lakefront Path. I have run on this portion of the path before at the Soldier Field 10 Mile Race, so I knew what to expect. The problem with the path is I think it tends to get too narrow for the number of folks out there.

I felt great the first 5-6 miles. I would say my only complaint at this point was my 5 minute wait for the port-a-potties. It ticked me off that the woman ahead of me "saved" spots in line for her girlfriends. When they stepped ahead of me, I uttered an obscenity. They knew I was not happy about this. After this episode I knew I could make up that time. I am not an elite athlete, so I don't have the speed to make up time like that. So off I went.

Mile 7 was the start of the rolling nature of the course. I felt I used a lot of energy with these "hills." This was also the point of the course where most people were walking a great deal of the time. The path is too narrow for all the people who want to walk with their friends. Some of us are still running out there. I wished these folks would have walked to one side of the path.

By Mile 9 I decided with the heat it was time to go from the 8/1 interval to 6/1 interval. In hindsight I think I should have started this sooner. I was a bit tired after the hills, that and the heat I was feeling more tired. I looked at my timer, a PR was no longer in my sights, but I was figuring I would be happy with 2:52, so off I went.

Mile 11 I was very tired. I don't think I took enough fluids, and I was feeling dehydrated. One volunteer at the aid station resisted giving me a second cup of water. I glared and took it anyway. C'mon two cups of water that aren't even 1/4 full? There was plenty for everyone.

Oh....odd note that I forgot...Mile 6 was what I call the mine field. They had wet sponges for us. Running in Sponge Alley was tricky. All the sponges thrown down made it hard to step. Organizers might want to rethink that move.

Mile 12 I knew the end was in sight, and I did my best to power ahead. By now I was slow. I was taking longer walking breaks. I was thirsty. I pushed on.

When I saw the finish line I stepped it up. My time was in my sights and off I went. I finished the race in 2:52:16. My pace was a touch over 13:00/mile. That is slower than I have been, but I will take it for that day.

The medal they gave could knock out an elephant. It is one heavy medal, but I felt I really earned it. Mark was waiting for me at the end, and I was so glad to see him. I had seen him at Mile 4 before we headed to the lake. At this point I was feeling dizzy, so he made sure I had something to drink and got me to sit down for a while. He looked so happy to see me, and I was so happy to show him my HUGE medal!

Overall I am pleased with the race. I am thinking about what I learned and what I need to do now for the marathon and will go over that soon in another post.

Congrats to Kara Goucher who won the race! I think she is an amazing athlete, and can become our greatest long distance runner.

Charlie

The Plan for the Half

Today was expo day. I went to the Rock n Roll Chicago expo, and got my bib, shirt, and finally, goodies in the goody bag. My best moment was meeting marathoner Ryan Hall. Mark tells me the look on my face was one of pure happiness. I will eventually get the pictures that was taken and share.

Hall and I talked briefly about his Boston Marathon and his Olympic Trials experiences. He is a genuinely nice guy. He seemed a bit awkward, but I bet public outings for sponsors are not his thing. Still he was very nice.

So I have looked over all the info for tomorrow's race. The forecast is for 61 degrees at 6 a.m. The race starts at 6:30. So it will be "cool" at the start. I believe it will warm up quickly. I have been planning on that. I have purposely run my runs later in the morning when there is more heat, so I would be ready for it. Hope that plan works.

Yes...I would like to PR tomorrow. My best is 2:45:04. I would like to knock a little off that. I believe I can as long as I stick to my pace. If I am faster than 11:30 at the first mile, I have gone out too fast, and there could be trouble later. Must be mindful to slow that down.

I feel my running has gone well, and while this is not my final goal, that will be in Indianapolis in November, this will go far to show where I am at this point.

Charlie