The Snows of Indiana

Two days, two very different runs. Yesterday I ran at NIFS on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Very run of the mill run. Today....very different.

Over the last day or so we have had snow, a couple of inches. Today's run was outside in the snowy area of Carmel. I ran on the Hagen - Bourke Trail, which is a feeder into the Monon Trail. The trail takes you through quiet neighborhoods, and into wooded areas. In the snow, it looked like a winter wonderland.

There is something very peaceful about running in this kind of weather. I found myself nostalgic of winter's past, growing up here in Indiana. I thought about the inner tube rides we would take at Bendix Park near South Bend. I remembered the snow forts, and the failed snowmen, I really had no business making. I'm horrible at that stuff. I also thought about the blizzard of 78-79. WOW that was a storm.

While I was running with a group, I was really in my own head during the run. It was in the 20s and I got sweaty and hot, but I felt good. In fact it felt very good just to be outside.

4 days of running done for the week, and I am pleased.

Charlie

The Sound of My Feet

The iPod stayed home yesterday as I went on my 40 minute run. I am a big fan of now and then leaving the music at home, and just heading out and listening to the sound of my feet. I think there is a great benefit to listening to your body on a run. I have talked about this before.

It isn't that your body is speaking, but it is in a sense. Without the music blaring, you can get a real sense for how your body is feeling on a run.

So what did my body tell me yesterday? It told me to run, and run faster. I did. My first two miles was run in 24:30. I slowed down a touch in the last 15:30, but still made the most of my run. I felt tired, very tired at the end of the run, but that is how it should be.

There are times to go easy, and there are times to push. Your body will tell you what time it is. I encourage all of you to go for a run without the music, and listen to your body.

Charlie

Taking Advice

Some people have trouble taking advice. I find it ironic that these people ask for advice, and then will not follow it at all. Runners can be like this. Barefoot or minimal running comes to mind.

I get asked frequently about minimal shoes and should people buy them. I talk to them about how it is about form, and not just the shoes. That if you are going to buy a minimal shoes, s-l-o-w-l-y integrate them into your running. I always suggest walking in them for a time and get used to how they feel. Once you do that, then start to run small miles at first, and slowly increase the miles.

Over the last few weeks I have talked to, or read about people complaining about the pain they suffer from - running 5 miles in their new minimal shoes, doing hill training in their minimal shoes, running a race in their new minimal shoes. Now did I advise these people against that? No, but I am 100% sure someone did. Now these people are suffering.

I get we runners are a stubborn bunch, but we are not stupid. Oh we do stupid things, but by nature we aren't stupid.

I just wish we listened to advice more.

Charlie

Contemplating Life, Death and Cranking it Up

Yesterday I ran for 30 minutes and oh I had the weight of life and death on my mind.

I have written in the past about my friend Mike. Mike is fighting Mylenoma, a form of blood and plasma Cancer. He has battled for a long time, and he is currently going through another battle. He was in my thoughts as I ran, Mike has faced this battle with a fierceness that I would hope I would have if I were in a similar situation.

Mike has some important loves. He loves his wife and family. He loves God. He loves trains. He loves a good glass of wine. He loves bike riding. He loves life. Those loves are worth fighting for.

When I run, I want to make sure I am doing what I need to do to be healthy, so I can continue to love my life and the people in my life. Mike, as I have said, is an inspiration to me. I greatly admire the zest he has for living.

One of the things which has bothered me over the last few years is that I was restricted in my running. This helped a decline if my fitness, it also made me feel down. Yesterday the doctor told me I could crank things up with my running. His feeling is that as long as my hips are not in pain, I can run. More tests would need to be done, but I have never felt hip pain. Occasional stiffness? Yes, but that is a given in my life. The doctor encouraged me to get back to doing longer runs, and doing the races and runs I want to do.

For me this means I get to pursue working more towards a healthier life, and hopefully attack it the same passion Mike does.

Charlie

Worked It

Today was a cross train day. I took a page from my Chicago days, and did a similar cross train I used to do there.

5 minutes on the elliptical - which serves as a warm up.

I did 25 minutes of resistance work. My focus was on my arms, shoulder and a little bit of legs.

15 minute run - this was my cardio.

At first I dreaded doing this, but as I got started I thought, "WOW I am loving this." For the first time in a long time I felt like I was training. There is a big difference between a workout, and training. Today I felt I had purpose and I was training!

Charlie

Running with Steve and Gaga

It isn't often you can put the following together - Steve Runner and Lady Gaga. In fact this may be the only time. My 40 minute run yesterday was a combination of running with Phedippidations and Lady Gaga. The first 30 I listened to Steve's most recent podcast. The last 10 minutes - solid Lady Gag.

There is something very comforting about running with Steve Runner. He is the friend you want to run with. He talks, you listen and run. It's all good. The recent podcast has Steve talking about his earlier days. It really is like running with a friend.

Lady Gaga helped me get through the last 10 minutes of the run when I want to ramp it up a bit. Her new single "Born This Way" is a powerful anthem of empowerment for the LGBT community. I'm sure the people on the various treadmills wondered who the odd guy lip syncing was. I didn't care. I got through the run.

In the 40 minutes I ran 3.18 miles - I call that a decent run.

Today cross training is the order of the day.

Charlie

Goals for the Week

Here are the goals I am setting for myself:

Run 4 days this week.

Increase the number of minutes running - looking to have a long run of 1 hour.

Begin to cross train.

Charlie

Putting Into Perspective

This evening I watched a fave running film of mine - "Chariots of Fire." I think it's a good one to watch when you want to put your running into perspective. The story of the film follows two runners: Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. Liddell, a Scot and devout Christian makes a stand that he will not run on a Sunday. Abrahams, a Jew, is a man burning to win. Both are gifted athletes. Both bring differing perspectives for running.

For Abrahams, his running and winning means gaining acceptance in a society which looks down on Jews. For Liddell, running is a gift from God, and he treasures that gift.

My running is not a gift, nor does it come naturally. I have to work very hard at it. Some days are better than others. I have to dig deep to make things work for me. For others running is a easy extension of themselves. I envy those people sometimes.

Still when I am running, I love it, and I feel complete. Today's run was one where I felt very complete. I ran for 30 minutes, and did a combination of speed work, and taking it easy. I felt good running.

I have to say though I eagerly await the day the snow and ice are gone so I can really run outside.

Charlie

Time Flies

Time flies when you have battled ice storms. Here in Indianapolis we have battled bitter cold, snow and ice. This is not a good mix for running outside. I have retreated to the indoors. I am so glad my gym has a nice track and great treadmills. Those have helped.

I have been running regularly. My last two workouts have been 40 minutes, and I think I am ready to tackle 1 hour runs. At least, that is what I would like to do. I am feeling good as I am running, so I say let's move it up.

I am enjoying running again. I think I will enjoy it even more once I have an outdoor routine. The gym can get old. I am also enjoying knowing I have races coming up.

Work is going well. I am beginning to put some fun marketing ideas to work, and hopefully those will take off. Good times.

Charlie

Running with Clubbed Feet

As I have shared before I was born with clubbed feet. Clubbed feet occurs in about 1 in 1000 babies. In my case my feet were sideways, and pointed in when I was born. While I was an infant I had corrective surgery, and as a small child I would have to wear corrective braces for a time.

The corrective surgery removed tendons from the back of my legs. The left foot was corrected, the right wasn't. I had a second surgery in my teens in which some bones were removed from my right foot. It corrected it some, but really did not do much in my opinion.

My right foot is a size 6 1/2 and my left is a 7 1/2.

Today my friend Kay Morris send me this link.

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8819779.Harwell_man_born_with_club_feet_to_run_marathon/

I was actually quite happy to see someone else who has been what I have been through can run. Running can be a painful experience for me, especially in the longer distances. My right foot has almost no range of motion, so running is very hard on it. As I like to say I supinate like nobody's business. I ran practically on the outside of my feet.

It is because of these issues I now have arthritis in my hips, and I am sure elsewhere too. Time is not going to be on my side on this one. Still....I run. I'm not sure what I would do if I was told I could no longer run.

Charlie