See Diva Run

I’m having difficulty forming a coherent thought lately, let alone express it in writing. I made a feeble attempt to explain why the marathon still calls out to me, even though I’m strictly a 5K runner these days, and a slow one at that. I left out the most compelling reason, and I suspect the thing that gets people hooked. The marathoners. This is equally true of half marathoners. The running community is such an amazing group of people. We have been fortunate to travel the country to participate in races, large and small. Wherever we go, we meet wonderful people who enrich our lives for having met them. Sometimes we even get to meet up with people who be “know” through message boards (LVM 21, Nike+, Runner’s Lounge) or bloggers. We’ve enjoyed pasta dinners and good company before and after the races. Even when we go to events where we don’t know anyone, we end up meeting interesting people.

As a general rule, I don’t strike up conversations with strangers in airports, but if they are wearing a finisher’s shirt I have a different rule. I read a great post on Bryan’s blog, where he described it as a secret club where you have to “bleed and sweat to get in, and the first rule is that YOU MUST TALK ABOUT IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE”. Isn’t that true. It is rare to find a marathoner who won’t gladly tell you all about any race they’ve ever participated in. Even the ones that didn’t turn out well. In fact, when your race isn’t going well (let’s say you fall and split something open and need to get a ride to the finish), the people you meet more than make up for any disappointment you might have about your run. The San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon was my personal worst timewise, but we got to spend that extra time getting acquainted with Stephanie, Lisa and Kristine, and the lovely Texan ladies we walked with from the hotel.

Why is the Mardi Gras Marathon my must do race? Because I adore the people of New Orleans, especially the members of the New Orleans Track Club who organize the race. As much as I love the marathoners, I also love the people who make the marathons possible. Even in small races where I’m mostly running alone, I enjoy a leisurely chat with the volunteers while I sip my water. Last year at Birch Bay, I was so casual about my water stop that one of the volunteers advised me that the event was being timed If I just wanted to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles as fast as possible (something I really would like to do some day), I could do it on the treadmill, or out on the Centennial Trail. Marathons are as much about the people as they are about the running.

Best wishes to everyone who is running a marathon this weekend!

This weekend the Mardi Gras Marathon will take place without me. The Mardi Gras Marathon is my “must do” race. I ran it in 2008 and 2007, and the half in 2006. The decision to skip it this year was not an easy one, even though I couldn’t run a 10K right now, let alone a marathon. My approach to my new running life is mostly pragmatic. I am careful about increasing speed or distance. I rarely run more than 4 miles, and I accept that this is what I can do now, and that distance running in the future must be the result of a careful progression. If it turns out that I don’t progress to the half or full marathon, so be it. That is my rational self. Running marathons isn’t exactly a rational thing to do. As long as I’m pining for the Mardi Gras Marathon and the topic for Take it and RUn Thursday at The Runner’s Lounge this week is “The Marathon Explained”, I’m posting about the marathon I’m not running.

Why do people run marathons? Especially people who clearly aren’t gifted runners? I think most people have a list of things that they consider nearly impossible to achieve, and running 26.2 miles appears on most people’s list. Even though I’ve completed 6 marathons, it still challenges my idea of what I can do. The thrill of a marathon is only partly about the marathon itself. It’s mostly about the feeling of accomplishment that follows the marathon. There is something very satisfying about doing something that is difficult enough that most people won’t even attempt it. Admittedly there are far more people attempting it now than ever before. Programs like Team in Training are bringing lots of new people to marathons. Some will do it once, have their curiosity be satisfied and check it off their list. Others will catch the marathon bug, and sign up for their next race within a few days of finishing that one. That is how I used to be.

Even though I’m playing the one day at a time game with distance, I still hear the call of the marathon. New Orleans misses me as much as I miss New Orleans. I’m sure of it. The Lake Tahoe Triple Marathon calls out to me as well. If you are to prove something to yourself, why not prove it three days in a row? Imagine the feeling of accomplishment you would have once you could move again! What’s a few hours (days) of misery for a lifetime of glory?

Why do people run marathons?

• Because they can.
• To find out if they can.
• To find out if they still can.
• To find out how fast they can.

Or to have something to do while waiting for the bands to start playing on Bourbon Street!

Related posts

http://seedivarun.com/blog/mardi-gras-marathon-2008/
http://seedivarun.com/blog/mardi-gras-marathon-2007/

I should be in bed, or perhaps stretching and then going to bed, but instead I’m sneaking in a late night post to let you all know that I ran 11 miles last week!

Last Week

* You exercised 12 times on 6 days, for 6.1 hours, and a total of 16.75 miles.
* You did flexibility 2 times on 2 days, for 0.3 hours.
* You did other 2 times on 2 days, for 0.9 hours.
* You ran 3 times on 3 days, for 2.1 hours, and a total of 11.01 miles.
* You did strength training 4 times on 4 days, for 1.3 hours.
* You walked 1 times on 1 days, for 1.5 hours, and a total of 5.74 miles.

That is a 10% increase from my previous 10 mile weeks! I actually got a little extra running in Sunday by running down the hills while out for a walk. I’m getting as much exercise as I can, because next week is going to be spent in classrooms and cars.

There, I said it. When The Runner’s Lounge first announced the “Get the Stink Out” challenge, inviting runners to try free samples of Penguin Sport-Wash, my first thought was, “Cool, free stuff”. By the time I got to the forum, a large number of runners were posting about how bad their running clothes smell. To be honest, my clothes don’t smell nearly as bad as the other runners claimed, so I didn’t sign up. A few days later, while hanging up my favorite Helly-Hansen jacket, I caught a whiff of the underarm. Ewww. So I went back to the forum and begged for a sample.

The samples arrived over the weekend, and as soon as I opened the envelope I rushed downstairs to toss my favorite jacket and my favorite running bra in the washing machine. I now know that when the nice people at Helly-Hansen advised me to wash the jacket separately, they were not concerned about fading from the bright pink jacket, but were in fact warning me about washing clothes with a jacket that is covered in Velcro strips. I won’t be doing that again! After removing them from the dryer, and then tearing them apart, I gave them the sniff test. I’m not talking about a quick whiff in the general direction. I’m talking about getting to the heart of the matter and inhaling deeply. The smell, while greatly diminished was still faintly detectable.

I went back to the results forum, and learned that all of those people who claimed to smell so bad now claimed to be odorless. Great! I have a running super power — sweat more powerful than a Penguin. Mother would be so proud! One run later, the running bra had reached a new high on the stink-o-meter. By yesterday I’d accumulated a small load of running clothes, so I tried again. When I pulled the previously super smelly bra out of the washer, I noticed no smell, and wondered if throwing it in the dryer might be “releasing the beast”, so I opted to let it drip. This morning, it is dry, and doesn’t have a noticeable smell.

In addition to combating smell, Penguin Sport-Wash also keeps technical fabrics looking and working like new. This was my biggest concern with the Helly-Hansen jacket, as I depend on it to keep the wind and rain out while I’m walking Jasmine, or when I decide to get outside in our lovely 90% humidity. I’m happy to say it is “as good as new”. I typically use Seventh Generation laundry detergent, but for my worst smelling and most important running clothes, I think I’ll invest in a bottle of Penguin Sport-Wash.

As long as I’m making confessions…. You know how good a new fleece sweatshirt feels before you wash it? Well, I bought a sweatshirt in San Antonio, to prevent hypothermia before/during the half marathon. Even though it had a bit of smell on it, I wore it all weekend, because it was much cooler than the 85 they had been teasing me with. Well, I still haven’t washed it. When I run on the treadmill, I dress for summer weather — shorts or a skirt, and a running bra. When I’m done, it’s time to take Jasmine out again. I slip the soft, fuzzy sweatshirt on over my bra and out we go. That’s right, I go walking around my neighborhood in a skirt, a bra and a stinky sweatshirt. Shameful, I know, but that plastic bag full of “stuff” really accessorizes the outfit. I think the neighbors are avoiding me I don’t blame them!

Jasmine hasn’t complained about the way I smell. Well, maybe she has. On Christmas Eve, she left a little something on the running clothes that I left on the floor. I thought it was an accident. Now I’m not so sure.

I’m back in class, and this one is a killer so you might not be getting much Diva wit and wisdom for the next 5 weeks (as if you were getting any before!). I’m still averaging 10 miles/week of running. I didn’t walk so much this week, but I’ve been slowly building up on my rowing time with no major shoulder problems, so I’m getting plenty of cardio work. I got a little core and a little flexibility work in, too.

* You exercised 14 times on 6 days, for 7.1 hours, and a total of 21.64 miles.
* You did flexibility 1 times on 1 days, for 0.5 hours.
* You did other (rowing) 3 times on 3 days, for 1.2 hours.
* You ran 3 times on 3 days, for 1.9 hours, and a total of 10.01 miles.
* You did strength training 3 times on 3 days, for 1.1 hours.
* You walked 4 times on 4 days, for 2.5 hours, and a total of 7.93 miles.

I hit the Centennial Trail today with my friend Cherl for a 6 mile walk in the sun. It was good to see blue sky! I got out for a “jog in the fog” yesterday. The hills were tough on me. My knee and ankle have been bothering me today.

I’m happy to report that my “holiday weight” is gone, and I’m back to my early December weight, which I wasn’t all that happy about at the time, but now that it has been up, it is looking better. I’m 6 pounds heavier than I was at this time last year. I suppose a 6 pound gain isn’t bad, considering my extreme lack of activity in 2008, but they still have to go. My plan is simple. I get up in the morning and start working on those 9 servings of fruits and vegetables. By the time I’ve eaten all the healthy stuff I’m suppose to get, I’m not terribly interested in eating junk.

Jasmine enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air today. She had me running up and down our block. Now she is sleeping on my pillow. I will get some serious dirty looks when I ask her to move. I hope all is well with all of you and that you are logging lots of injury-free miles and racing PRs. I’ll try to visit your blogs soon!