VT Dad’s fight vs. inertia & flab

Tonight I went to a Bat-Mitzvah party on a cruise ship, that went out onto Lake Champlain for 3 Hours.  The ship had 3 levels, someone was hosting an informal party on the the top level, their was a HS prom on the middle level, and the Bat Mitzvah party on the lower level.   This was my biggest "cheat" meal in quite some time.  

My personal achilles heel is a good appetizer.  This party had several, and I had multiple helpings.  Dinner was a buffet, and mine was filled with carbs and greens.  Great for a runner, and someone in a recovery week, not great for watching my weight.  Even with 1 beer, my meal wasn’t that horrible, that is until dessert.  I couldn’t stop at 1, or 2, I had 3 different desserts.  A chocolate mousse, a whipped cream parfait, and mango and berry crepes.

I’ll have some control over tomorrow, but the Bar/Bat mitzvah season at our synagogue continues weekly through 7/5.

You can see online photos from the VCM.  My bib number was 118.

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=31319&BIB=11
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I was foolish and fool hearty thinking that I would run 4-6 miles these next few days.  I’m only 6 days removed from my marathon.  So I scaled back my aspirations, and decided to go for a short 2 mile run with Mookie.  It was raining during the run ~55F, 13C.  The two of us just ran for the joy of it.  I embraced the wetness as my shoes soaked in the elixir of life.  Mookie ran and played, his little nub of a tail going 100 mph.  It was a refreshing run.  It was a joyous run.  It reinforced why I run.

The special education program at my HS had an end of the year picnic today.  We brought a bag of balls to the picnic.  With basketball in hand my rest and recovery time post marathon ended.  First we played some friendly games of knockout, and some 3-on-1.   Back in the day 17 or so years ago when I first moved to VT I could routinely beat eighth graders 3-on-1.  Today’s game was much more relaxed, but it was fun to show my kids that I have skills.  Later we had ~40 minutes straight of knockout with 5-8 people playing, including 1 dad.  I won the first dozen or so games, and 3/4 of the games overall.  I guess I’m recovered enough to start running, so I’ll put in 15-20 easy miles over the next 3 mornings.

It took me 3-4 days to stop aching after the marathon, but now I’m feeling good.  I want to get back to running.  I can’t wait to go out on my next run, but I told myself I’d take the entire week off, and I’m sticking too it.  It’s 4 weeks until my birthday, I can show some patience and wait until Tuesday to run.  I can’t wait, but I will.

Another quote from Bart Yasso, "Running isn’t about how far you go but how far you’ve come."

I’m reading Bart Yasso’s book "My Life on the Run"  I wanted to share this quote and philosophy of life that he shares, and that I’ve tried to embrace.

"Winning is a nice reward- don’t get me wrong- but glory isn’t the payoff.  This may sound cliche, but the reward is living the lifestyle and embracing the journey.  I’s not only about finishing, it’s about moving forwards."

Now I look towards summer.  I’m going to spend my summer playing basketball, working on my core, and doing plyometrics.  I’m going to see what speed I can crank out of this old body.  I have registered for a fall marathon in Niagara Falls 10/26.  My planned race schedule is as follows:  6/28- 10 mile race.  7/4- 5K, 9/6 - 5 miler, 10/5 - 1/2 marathon

I don’t know what happened today.  I ran really really inefficiently.   My HR was too high compared to how high it is when I usually run at comparable pace.  I was unable to do what I visualized, and paid the price later on.  My first mile was 8:45, and my 2 mile time was 17:02.  I had implored myself to start slowly ~9:15, and 18.  Just starting too fast set everything out to be a struggle.  I hit the 1/2 marathon at 1:57, and I should have easily been inside that.  By mile 20 I was already laboring, and at 3:05.  I ran the last 10K in 73 minutes, ouch.  I did finish in 4:18:05, which was 95 seconds faster than I ran 6 years ago.

My highlights from the marathon include the tremendous support from my wife and littlest.  I saw them 6 times on the course.  I had a 10-15 minute conversation with the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont between miles 6.5 and 8.  We discussed Vermont’s energy policy.  I shared with him my opinions about how we need to be and can be proactive.  He told me what plans and announcements were in the works.  We had a great conversation.  The crowd support in general was amazing.  My favorite sight was between miles 19 and 20.  There was a life sized poster of Hillary.  She was telling the runners "Keep Fighting", and "Don’t Give Up"

I had a wonderful experience training for, and running in the VCM.  I just wish I would have run a little smarter, and a little better today.
http://www.runpix.info/vmt08/42/finord.php?LastNameEM=118

It’s race day, 3 hours until the race begins, and I’m thinking about the race mile by mile.  Currently it’s 43F, 6C.  The race day forecast looks ideal, clear and sunny with light winds.  It should be 49F, 9C at the start, and 68F, 20C when I hit the finish line.  Shortly I’ll have breakfast, and at 7:45 I’ll have a packet of vanilla energy gel.  During the race I’ll have 3 shot bloks before arriving at the water stations at miles 5,11,17,and 22.5.

Being at the starting line is such a rush.  There is a crowd of people all celebrating their hard work.  Everyone is a buzz of anticipation.  There is so much positive energy and adrenaline.  When the starting gun goes off, I’ll have a walk, then a jog until the starting line.  The race will turn onto Pearl street and I’ll look for space to run, and my wife and youngest on the left side of the street.  The first mile is uphill, the second downhill in many ways they are the most important ones for me in the race.  I need to be relaxed and slow.  I can’t be phased by my time at mile 1.  Throughout the race I’m hoping to average 8:46, but I need patience early, and hope to be at 9:26 @ mile 1, and 19:15 at mile 2.  If I’m between 19 and 20 minutes at mile 2 I’ll have so much better chance of reaching my goal than if I am sub19.  The race then goes through the downtown, and back towards the start where I’ll see my family again.  

The next section of the race from mile 3 to mile 8.5 is an out an back along a limited access road.  There won’t be any spectators, and there won’t be any place to hide from the sun or the wind.  But this stretch is also neat, because you see all of the participants.  First you cheer as the leaders race past you, then I hope to see many of my friends who are racing, finally I get to support those for whom finishing the race will under 6 hours will be a challenge.  It’s a celebration with everyone who is sharing a similar journey.  Also during this stretch at miles 5&7 is the water station manned by students from my kids HS.  Leaving this stretch is a long gentle uphill.

We then run through town again, I’ll see my wife and youngest at mile 8.8.  Then we head out of town along Pine street.  This is a mentally challenging part of the race, a 1.5 mile straight road with little crowd support.  In addition at mile 8.8 is the third relay exchange, so as you run this long, straight patch of road you’re being passed by many relay runners with their flexi-neon wristbands.  Mile 11 enters a southern neighborhood so there is more crowd support.  The mile 11 water station is manned by students from the HS where I work, so I’ll have a pick-me-up there.  Just  before the 13th mile is another subtle uphill, then we run through Oakledge Park and the 1/2 marathon relay exchange.  I’m hoping to reach the half between 1:50 and 1:55.  We leave Oak Ledge Park with a ~2 mile stretch along the bikepath adjacent to Lake Champlain.  The scenery is gorgeous, but if it’s a windy day the winds along the lake can be brutal,

Exiting the bike path the race turns onto Battery Street and the longest hill of the race.  At the base of the hill there will be the Burlington Taiko drummers, setting a beat that will power me up the hill.  On the hill I’ll hear the encouragement of my wife and youngest.  The race really starts after the hill is crested.  The race moves into the new north end of Burlington.  Between miles 15 and 20 there is great crowd support, and my family will effort to see me 2 more times.  ~ mile 21 is the toughest downhill of the course, a shock to your body at that point of the race.  

There is a water station at mile 21.5 where the race course meets the bike path.  My 10th grade son is volunteering at that water station.  The bike path is the home stretch of the race.  It gently slopes downhill for 4 miles until it reaches Waterfront Park.  The crowds are a little lighter, but this is a pretty run.  There is also the beer to look forward to.  After mile 24 some group has a tapped keg and offers dixie cups of beer rather than water as you pass.  The crowds at Waterfront Park are large.  The crowd supports helps you drive those last 2/3 of a mile to the finish.  I’m hoping for a 3:48:54, but I’ll be happy as I cross the finish line, having completed a satisfying journey.

It’s 2+ hours until the race begins.  I can’t wait.