By this time 7:50pm Saturday Night next week I expect to be done with Ironman St George. It's my first Ironman in almost 10 years. I'm not 100% convinced of what caused me to sign up. I honestly think I was just tired of being fat and slow. Anyway the "training" is done. There are a couple tune up hard sessions and then some relaxing swims to go. All that's left is execution of the day.
- To all of those I've said no to for training in the last 5 months I am free to freelance now.
- To coach G thanks for sticking to my crazy schedule.
- To China - Well we'll see about that next Saturday. When I signed up I didn't plan on 3 trips to visit you this Spring.
Most importantly I have to thank Mary and Marco. If it were not for your understanding I would never attempt this nor would I be so ready. I love both of you.
It's a good life....
Dave
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Warped Reality
My beautiful wife posted this on Facebook the other day:
"What a warped reality I inhabit. I was dragging all day, and could barely get my backside out the door for a (much despised) hill repeat workout. The Mary Jewell version of hill repeats, anyway. Can't say I feel like a million bucks now, but maybe $750, 000. Don't sleep or eat sugar or carbs when you're tired, just run"
I am often asked if my wife is a runner. This quote sums it up.
Yeah we run because there is a goal out there to be faster than the last time. Yeah we run because we think it makes us look better. Yeah we run because we can't play basketball or catch a baseball. But I think the real reason we get out there is because it makes us feel better.
Once each weekend Marco and I go running. We try to plan it out mostly because I need to know when I'm running. Because he's a typical 12 year old our runs usually happen at 5pm on Saturday or Sunday. I'd rather do it at 9am but he's just not ready. So we set the plan. But just like any kid it's not his priority. In fact his priority is whatever is happening right now and only right now. So 4:30 rolls around and I send up the prep warning that we are going to run in 30 minutes. Many times I get something in return that is the opposite of excitement. He drags himself away from his thing and slowly gets dressed. All the while complaining that he's tired, that he just doesn't want to go. Usually he asks "Can I eat something first, I'm starving." In general he's throwing up every obstacle in front of the run.
Somehow each weekend we get outside to run. The run usually starts with him wanting to get it over fast so he takes off at a quick pace. Luckily I've trained him to partially understand it doesn't matter how fast you run, it's still going to be 40 minutes. So off we go. Usually 10 minutes into the run, the negative "I don't want to run kid" turns into the chatty Marco we all know and love. The most observant kid I've ever been around. "Look over there dad, wouldn't you love to have that garden" By the time we are done we've had one of the best conversations of the week. At the end of every run he looks over and says "I feel so much better now, thanks for going with me".
That's our warped reality as runners. If all else fails to brighten your day, go running.
It's a good life...
Dave
"What a warped reality I inhabit. I was dragging all day, and could barely get my backside out the door for a (much despised) hill repeat workout. The Mary Jewell version of hill repeats, anyway. Can't say I feel like a million bucks now, but maybe $750, 000. Don't sleep or eat sugar or carbs when you're tired, just run"
I am often asked if my wife is a runner. This quote sums it up.
Yeah we run because there is a goal out there to be faster than the last time. Yeah we run because we think it makes us look better. Yeah we run because we can't play basketball or catch a baseball. But I think the real reason we get out there is because it makes us feel better.
Once each weekend Marco and I go running. We try to plan it out mostly because I need to know when I'm running. Because he's a typical 12 year old our runs usually happen at 5pm on Saturday or Sunday. I'd rather do it at 9am but he's just not ready. So we set the plan. But just like any kid it's not his priority. In fact his priority is whatever is happening right now and only right now. So 4:30 rolls around and I send up the prep warning that we are going to run in 30 minutes. Many times I get something in return that is the opposite of excitement. He drags himself away from his thing and slowly gets dressed. All the while complaining that he's tired, that he just doesn't want to go. Usually he asks "Can I eat something first, I'm starving." In general he's throwing up every obstacle in front of the run.
Somehow each weekend we get outside to run. The run usually starts with him wanting to get it over fast so he takes off at a quick pace. Luckily I've trained him to partially understand it doesn't matter how fast you run, it's still going to be 40 minutes. So off we go. Usually 10 minutes into the run, the negative "I don't want to run kid" turns into the chatty Marco we all know and love. The most observant kid I've ever been around. "Look over there dad, wouldn't you love to have that garden" By the time we are done we've had one of the best conversations of the week. At the end of every run he looks over and says "I feel so much better now, thanks for going with me".
That's our warped reality as runners. If all else fails to brighten your day, go running.
It's a good life...
Dave
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Beauty that is Running
Let me start with the day before the run. After the long flight from California to Hong Kong I knew day 1 in China would be a challenge. I had no idea it was going to be such a day. I woke up at my typical first day time of 2:30am. I tried to go for a run but the hotel I was staying in had no good access to running and the gym didn't open until 6:00am. I had to leave the hotel a 6:45am to catch the train. The day in China was typical for the first day. Meetings to catch up with the factories. First factory was the production factory. Second Factory was the midsole supplier. Then there was the required factory dinner and then the long drive to the hotel. I finally checked in at the hotel at 12:00am the next day.
I slept hard and was ready to roll at 6:00am on the run. I have a fairly standard first day run that takes me over the river and then along the quite boardwalk until I cross the river again and come back to the hotel. I was about 20 minutes into my run feeling ok but not trying to push it. The boardwalk is always full of morning people. People doing one form of exercise or another. There are plenty of runners. I was approaching one of the runners. He was dressed in shorts (casual dress) and a t-shirt and he was running in some brand of court shoe. As I pulled up along side him, without looking over he began to half step me. In other words he wasn't going to let me pass. So I returned the 1/2 step. He did the same. I did the same. He did the same. At some point I gave up and decided to see how long he could hold the pace. We are now running sub 6 min/mile. We run for close to 10 minutes. I got to my bridge crossing and was kind of relieved. He looked over with a big grin on his face. I simply applauded loud. As I went up the stairs of the bridge I glanced down and he had slowed down to a pedestrian pace.
I simply love the sport of running. The energy it brings to my life every day and the experiences it gives me. I've been lucky to run all over the world and in every place I find myself in awe of the experience and the people I get to share it with. It's not about shoes, it's not about distance it's simply the pure beauty that is running.
It's a good life....
Dave
I slept hard and was ready to roll at 6:00am on the run. I have a fairly standard first day run that takes me over the river and then along the quite boardwalk until I cross the river again and come back to the hotel. I was about 20 minutes into my run feeling ok but not trying to push it. The boardwalk is always full of morning people. People doing one form of exercise or another. There are plenty of runners. I was approaching one of the runners. He was dressed in shorts (casual dress) and a t-shirt and he was running in some brand of court shoe. As I pulled up along side him, without looking over he began to half step me. In other words he wasn't going to let me pass. So I returned the 1/2 step. He did the same. I did the same. He did the same. At some point I gave up and decided to see how long he could hold the pace. We are now running sub 6 min/mile. We run for close to 10 minutes. I got to my bridge crossing and was kind of relieved. He looked over with a big grin on his face. I simply applauded loud. As I went up the stairs of the bridge I glanced down and he had slowed down to a pedestrian pace.
I simply love the sport of running. The energy it brings to my life every day and the experiences it gives me. I've been lucky to run all over the world and in every place I find myself in awe of the experience and the people I get to share it with. It's not about shoes, it's not about distance it's simply the pure beauty that is running.
It's a good life....
Dave
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