What Have I Learned?

I left Providence Running Company at the end of April, and have been on my break as I get ready to work for Fleet Feet. I've had time to do some thinking about what lessons learned from this experience in Rhode Island. So it's time to share what I learned(or re-learned) .....

1) Know your customer. I will be a tad critical of my former employer in this aspect, you really need to know who your customer is. You need to know what they use, and what they don't use. If you truly are the nimble company you claim to be, then you have to listen to your front line staff is working with the customer day in and day out. I think my former employer used to know, but as they hire more and more non-running industry, or related people, they are getting away from really knowing what is needed. Market analysis can only tell you part of the story.

2) Put your money where your mouth is, or it's just talk. There is so much I wanted to do in the community, but my hands were continually tied. Rhode Island is a community of who you know. I came here not knowing anyone, and I needed time to get into to community and meet face to face with businesses, organizations and people. I was not allowed that time. I was told at one point, "Just make phone calls." In the age of social media, and less interaction, I get what I was told, but still a lot of business gets done face to face. People want to know the person they are dealing with. You can tell a story much better one on one, or in small groups, then a conference call. Invest in your community be being part of the community.

3) Not every idea is a great one. Case in point - in store events. Lord knows I tried, but time and time again, I would only get one or two people. Scavenger Hunts, Chili Runs, Wine Runs, can be great ideas, in this case, they weren't. I attribute to not knowing 100% my first two points above as part of the reason for the failures. I also think I didn't think them all the way through.

4) Organization - I've been better organized, and I feel I somehow dropped the ball on not being as organized as I have been. Note to self....a file cabinet it there for a reason.

5) Not Everything is a Battle - my former peers would tell you, quite a bit upset me. I'm known as a choose your battles guy, but when I was confronted in incompetence, everything was a battle for me. It added stress to my life, and made my workplace not as fun.

6) Always be helpful - this was a re-learn. I always wanted to help my staff, my peers, my company. Offering assistance in the long run helps you. It's like good karma, you build it, and things have a way of working out for you.

I'm sure there are a few more lessons, but these immediately came to mind. Now I move on to Carrboro refreshed, happy, and excited. Clean slates are a good thing.

Charlie

Heat and Training

I've been fairly upbeat about my running and training for the Fall races, but I haven't been totally honest with myself until yesterday's run. My body isn't ready for a marathon. I can certainly do a half marathon, and I feel I am on track for that, and will be a success. The heat though is hindering my ability to train for a full.

After my heart attack, the doctor told me I could run, but warned me about running in heat. So with that in mind, I have been holding back my miles because of the very hot Summer we are having. I get up pre-dawn to make sure I'm not running in the heat, but remember, as you run your body temperature rises. So a 75 degree morning, feels like a 90 degree morning, and that isn't good for me.

Now, you would be correct in reminding me that I am moving South, and it will be warm there too. Yes, this is true, but I can make adjustments to my racing schedule. I can train for Spring races, and train through the Fall/Winter without too much trouble.

What this means for this year is I will run the half in London, and then I will run a half in Philadelphia, instead of the full. The organizers in Philly allowed me to do this, and I feel good about it.

Yesterday's run was a tough one. At one point I felt I wanted to throw up, and I ended it the run 2.5 miles into it. On the walk home, I thought about all of this, and how the heat has limited my ability to run longer distances of 10-12 miles. I don't want to do anything to damage my health, so it's better to run smarter in the heat, and that means shorter distances. By the time October is here, I will have enough miles and stamina to do the half in London, and then be even better in November for Philadelphia.

Word of caution to runners....

Every day I see runners heading out in the middle of the day, when the heat is the worst. They are running hard, and I don't see any hydration around them. This is dangerous, and I urge all runners to run with hydration during the Summer. If possible, run early morning, or early evening. If you have to run mid-day, be smart about it.

Charlie

Do You Run to Prove You Run?

I'm known as a run/walk guy. I run for a few minutes, then I walk a minute or so. I've done this since the dawn of my running life. There is something else I've done. When I come upon another runner, and I've been walking, I start to run. Yes, it's stupid. I do this to "prove" I run.

I said that was stupid right? I think because I get asked all the time in stores, "You run?" I feel I have to prove myself out on the road. I don't want another runner to think I don't run. God forbid I be a walker, or a run/walk person.

The truth is, no one is really taking notice of my running, they're into their run. I think we get a sense of how we are perceived when we run. I think this because of the number of times people tell me they think their form is wrong, or they don't look like a "serious" runner.

I have to remember, and I think this is good advice to anyone else going through this, no one cares how you run, because, quite simply it's right foot, left foot, repeat. If someone cares how you run, then they are one of two kinds of people: a coach who wants to help you improve you running, or some petty minded people.

In all my years of running, I've gotten hundreds of thumbs ups, attaboys, and a great deal of encouragement. In that same time, I've only been heckled or bothered once. My friend Bob, who ran with me in Indy at a pretty wet half marathon will remember his yelling back at the heckler.

So stop proving you run....you don't need to prove it to anyone. All you need to do is run.

Charlie

Targets

This morning was a speed workout. I ran two miles with a goal of cutting down my time. One of the things I do during a run like this is pick targets, and then pick up the pace to get to it. In today's case, there was a man walking down the street. He was a block and a half ahead, and I decided I would pick a place to overtake him and go.

I got the target, and the goal to hit, and off I went. The man was walking at a brisk pace, so I knew I had to pick up my pace. Success, I edged him out at the "finish line" I set. My reward was the 1st mile and 2nd mile were almost even paces. Seconds separated them.

When I ran in Chicago, I would pick a block, and mentally do a countdown to get to the end of that block, and off I would go. Targets can help you achieve the speed goals you want. This is something you call upon yourself to do on race day, when you need that burst of speed.

During races I try to stay with someone in the crowd, and then decide when I want to get up to them. I don't race people in a race, but I want to at least get to a pace where I am along side them.

Race prep took a hit while I've been traveling, but I feel I am still on track for both Fall races.

Charlie

The Town to Myself

This morning, it was about 75 degrees as I headed out of the hotel to run through Carrboro and Chapel Hill. It was 6am, and I started on a bike/run trail in Carrboro. No one else was out. I had the town to myself.

I've never really run in such solitude in a town. This isn't like a trail, where it's you an nature. This is a sleepy little town of almost 20,000, and you have it all to yourself as the sun rises. Well, there was one other person. A police officer sat in his car by the trail as I started. We have good morning to each other, and then I was off.

Carrboro is adjacent to Chapel Hill, so within a half mile I was in Chapel Hill. I sometimes ran on the road, and sometimes on the brick walk. I think I prefer the road. Soon I was on the campus of the University of North Carolina. Again, I had it all to myself. A car would go by, but not one was out and about.

As the Sun rose, I could feel the heat get more intense. The smells in the air were the flowering plants and trees which are in full bloom right now. It was heavenly.

Once I was in the middle of the campus, signs of life began to appear. People on their way to open restaurants or cafes mostly. Each one wished me a good morning. Homeless people all acknowledged me. One guy said, "There you go, keep doing it." I gave him a thumbs up.

My route covered close to 3 miles today. Very hilly, VERY! I walked more than I like, but as I get more accustomed to the hills, I'll do better with them.

Soon I will live here, and I will create some wonderful routes, but nothing will top the solitude of this morning's run.

Charlie

A Magical Place

In sports there are magical places where great achievements happen. In football, places like Lambeau Field, Notre Dame Stadium, or the L.A. Coliseum come to mind. In basketball, Madison Square Garden is legendary arena. In golf, teeing it up at Augusta or St. Andrews is hallowed ground. For runners there are few places which are magical for them. In this country, Hayward Field, in Eugene, OR is THE place. 

Eugene bills itself as Tracktown USA, and that is a pretty apt name. The University of Oregon is famous for their track teams, most notably under the coaching of the legendary Bill Bowerman in the 60's and 70s. Hayward Field is where Steve Prefontaine killed the competition meet after meet. Olympic Trials(such as the current one) and World Championships have been held here. The crowds who attend know track and field, and winning here, you get a heroes applause.

Last year, during my Hood to Coast adventure, I had the honor to tour Hayward Field. From the outside, it's a very unassuming place. It's not a bowl stadium, though I believe there are plans to make it more that way. It is awash in the university's colors of green and yellow. The seats are bleachers. There is very much a bygone era feel to the stadium. 

Stepping onto the track though is where the magic happens. After a few steps, I felt very much like I was in a land of the giants. On this track Pre wowed the crowds. Nick Symmonds had masterful come from behind wins here. Shalane Flannigan dominated here. The world's fastest men cemented their status here. Anyone who is anyone in track has been on the track, and now I was on the track. So what did I do? I ran. 

To be fair, it wasn't a good run. I was holding my smartphone, and recording it, so there would be proof  ran there. Still, in my mind, I was ahead of Pre, and holding him off as I crossed the finish line, winning the race. 

In my life there have been to places I've ran which held special meaning for me. One was finishing on the 50 yard line in Notre Stadium, the other was my few meters run in Hayward Field. Both places allow you to be with your heroes for a time, and it is truly magical and special.

Charlie

Oh That Pesky Heart

This week it will have been two years since my heart attack. Today's run was a reminder that I have heart disease. I didn't feel well on the run. The goal was to run 4 miles today. My breathing never felt right, and at mile 2.6 I felt a bit dizzy. My chest felt a bit heavy, but not attack heavy. So I walked the rest of the way to the car. Overall miles was 4.25.

I don't like things holding my back in my running. So I felt very depressed during the walk to the car. I felt like this is yet another limitation in my life I want to overcome. Of course the truth is I can't really overcome this. I have a stent, and it will be with me the rest of my life. I do my best on the diet. I feel the running also helps.

Of course I have to watch everything with running. I just hate feeling like that though. I just want to run, and not worry about anything. Sadly, today my heart reminded me it was still there and being tricky with me. I always know though to stop and just walk when these episodes happen. If need be, I have my phone, I could call for help. I also run in places that are pretty busy, and not remote. I do take precautions.

Still I accomplished miles today, when two years ago I didn't know if I would live. Progress!

Charlie

Making Up Missed Runs Is Like Getting Rich Quick

The title of this piece is about what to do if you missed planned runs. This is something runners encounter during training. They get sick or injured, and they miss runs, and now they wonder what to do. My advice.....don't make up missed runs.

If you missed two of your runs for the week, that doesn't mean you run seven days straight to make up for it. It also doesn't mean you "ramp up" your running by running more on your runs. I'm not a believer in making up runs. The risk of injury increases, because you are trying to jam lost miles into your run. If you missed last week's 10 miler, and you are scheduled to do 13 this week, I say split the difference, and try to adhere to a slow, gradual increase in miles. Is injuring yourself worth it if you can't be healthy to run the race? No.

I once worked with a guy who was really sick for three weeks, and to make up his training, he planned to run 10 miles every day. Really. In his mind, he would make up lost miles, and be back to where he needed to be. He was trying to qualify for Boston.

He didn't like what I told him. I advised he not do that, I suggested he go back to where he left off, and take it from there. He didn't listen to me...totally. No, he didn't run 10 miles every day, but he went on an insane schedule of running every day, running hard, and running more than he had previously. He didn't qualify for Boston. In fact, he had one of his slowest races - he was fatigued from training.

The point of training is to do a couple of things. First it's to build stamina for longer distances. Second, it's designed to prevent fatigue and injury. Why train against the goal?

So if you miss some runs - don't panic, and just remember to have faith in your training plan, and work around it to support what you are doing, not work against it.

Charlie