Three New Races and My Ever-Increasing Shame

Still nothing imminent on the “scheduled big race” horizon, though I did sign-up for three separate $20 races last week: the Go Green 5k Trail Run (Saturday, Oct. 16), the Trick or Trot 10k (Saturday, Oct. 30), and the Mad Marsh 50k (Saturday, Nov. 20). I find it humorous that I can pay the same amount of money for a race/run that is 10x the distance of another, but hey, it is what it is—I’m just glad they’re all so affordable (it sure beats the $150 Burning River or Boston Marathon fee…though you do “get what you pay for,” which is essentially my way of saying I'll be shelling out the funds for those races again, without issue). Here’s a brief race synopsis of each of the aforementioned three I’ll be running:

Go Green 5k Trail Run: I wasn’t even aware of this new, under-the-radar run until last Friday, when I was asked if I knew about the race that was “right around the corner from [my] house”. Upon looking it up the following day, I found that this was not an exaggeration—the race is literally right around the corner from my house (it’s run in a conservation area that is situated within the woods that border my backyard). So I signed up, as I can’t pass-up a race that doesn’t even require me to move my car out of my garage (even if I haven’t done any of the necessary preparation for it, at all). And it’s (supposedly) on trails (though they are newly-cleared trails that are still chock-full of soft, thick underbrush—ideal for speed: no, ideal for ankle turns and hidden objects: yes). But the race map makes it look like just as much of the run is on the road/paved bicycle paths, so I’ll emerge unscathed yet.

Trick or Trot (10k): This is another low-key event, but one I look forward to (and participate in) each year. It begins and ends at my old Elementary School (May Howard), which sits approximately 2.5 miles from my front door. Again, a race that is run in/on my stomping grounds, and one that most of the family participates in each year; I never lay down a super-fast time (though the course couldn’t be much easier), but it’s one of my all-time favorites. Plus, 10ks are so few and far between....

Mad Marsh 50k: At my recently completed FATS 50k, a gal was handing out fliers for another 50k she was spearheading—the Mad Marsh 50k. I took a gander online, and though this is primarily a fun run (at last tally, I believe there were 10 people signed up), I couldn’t pass-up the opportunity to get in some good, long distance on trails. Held in Beaufort, SC (which is only about an hour away), this should work out for me nicely; it will help me keep some distance on my legs without making me drive too far or go it alone.

I couldn’t ask for much more in my training—the weather is cooling ever-so-slightly, my legs are feeling pretty strong, and I have a few races on the horizon to help keep me motivated. I’m still searching for the ever-elusive “big race,” but fear that it’s gotten too late in the year for such high hopes; many ultramarathons are run out West, where there are ample well-developed trails (and mountains) to allow for such endeavors, and many of the trails will soon be snow-covered. It’s probably for the best, as my already-existent bills need paid more than I need to splurge on travel and hotel expenses…but still, racing makes me happy (and yes, I realize it’s an addiction). But having said that, Boston Marathon sign-up begins next Monday (October 18) at 9:00 AM EDT, so I’ve at least got that to look forward to.

I’ll leave you with two songs/videos that always make me smile and somehow require me to sing at the top of my lungs (sorry, world)—“The Cave” by Mumford & Sons (excellent, excellent stuff) and “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz (yes, I’m ashamed of myself):





P.S. How does the briefcase-toting white girl in Taio's two-girl posse keep from showing her downstairs? I mean, the camera is RIGHT THERE and her "dress" is cut up to her cleavage. I'm convinced she's anatomically incorrect (i.e. a human Barbie Doll). I've evidently watched the video far too many times...FOR SHAME!

Impatience + Competitiveness / Success x Benefits = Running

Because I don’t currently have access to my less-than-stellar training specs from last week, I’ll have to skip that portion of this post (dry those eyes, everyone), and instead focus on something altogether more meaningful: why I run.

Let’s set our scene: imagine a 6-year old with a face full of freckles and a sort of dirty blonde (but quickly approaching "just plain brown") afro. Now imagine that same child with seemingly boundless energy (so much so that he was asked to be a student in the inaugural Pre-First class, a made-up grade falling in between Kindergarten and 1st Grade for those showing the inability to sit still long enough to move on).



As you might imagine, asking an already-excitable kid to essentially retake Kindergarten (which sort of makes it sound like I flunked it, doesn’t it? How depressing) probably wasn’t too stimulating to the old brain pan. In fact, as close as I can remember, Pre-First was really just one long recess. So we’ll say that’s where I first began to hone my endurance. It’s probably nothing more than a well-told lie (one based upon the random, broken images of a 6-year old), but I feel it works well as a sort of foundation for the remainder of my tale.

Truth be told, I think I’ve always liked running, but never realized it until just recently. Even to this day, whenever my mom asks me to “run to the car” as a figure of speech, I take it as an excuse to do so literally—not because I’m too thick-headed to realize the difference, but because it’s something I enjoy. It just so happened that eventually, “to the car” wasn’t far or often enough. But why? For one thing, I’ll readily admit that some of my running is/was borne out of impatience—why take 5 minutes to get somewhere when you can take 4 and enjoy an extra minute at your destination? I also like surprising people with my speed; yes, fine sir, you did just get beaten by an unassuming sort of fellow with bird legs and "just plain brown" hair. And I’m good at it. That helps (quite a bit), too. But, while those all factor in to my running equation, the fact remains that I run because I like to. I like pushing my body and being surprised how far it will take me. I like getting lost in the sights, smells and feel of a run—being the only person in the world to experience some of nature’s little idiosyncrasies is a wonderful, wonderful thing (and very cathartic). Factor in the ability of running to keep me fitting into my clothing and it’s a win/win situation.

Impatience + Competitiveness / Success x Benefits = Running

March of Dimes 5k Shamrock Run this Friday at 6:00 PM EST. I sincerely hope that, at approximately 6:16:30 I still feel as positively about running. Also, I'm seriously considering running an ultra marathon or 24-hour race later in the year. More on that, later.

Music and Me (At Least When Running...Sometimes)

Today, I'll be treating you to my whilst-running playlist, but first:

Tuesday: Ran 4.63 miles in 37:49 (8:10 pace). Also did some light sit-ups and push-ups.
Thursday: Ran 3.95 miles in 31:44 (8:02 pace).
Saturday: Ran a 0.95-mile warm-up in 7:30, followed by 8 miles in 53:27 (6:41 pace).
Sunday: Ran 18.1 miles in 2:21:01 (7:47 pace).

Weekly Total: 40.52 miles

Monthly Total: 140.22 miles

Below, you will find a listing of songs that are currently on my handy 2GB Sansa clip.



I don't always, or even generally, listen to music when I'm running (the reasons being twofold: 1. I like to train in a race-like atmosphere, which is typically devoid of music and 2. The sights, sounds and smells you encounter when out for a run are oftentimes unimaginable, especially when paired with each other), but when I'm stuck on a treadmill, or feel that a run might be enhanced by some tunes, these are some of my favorites. The songs are either topical, offer a good beat to which to run, or are simply, unequivocally fun (i.e. smile-inducing, lyric-belt'able).

Aha - Take on Me
Boston - More Than a Feeling
Feist - 1234
Foo Fighters - All My Life
The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
Fenix Tx - Beating a Dead Horse
Alphaville - Big in Japan
Lonely Island - Boombox
System of a Down - Chop Suey
Vampire Weekend - Cousins
Metallica - Die Die Die My Darling
Andrew W.K. - Never Let Down
Rammstein - Du Hast
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls
Foo Fighters - Everlong
Milencolin - Farewell My Hell
Andrew W.K. - Fun Night
AFI - Girl's Not Grey
The All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Mudvayne - Happy?
OK Go - Here It Goes Again
Shakira - Hips Don't Lie
Panic! At the Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
B.o.B. - I'll Be In the Sky
Foreigner - Jukebox Hero
Stroke 9 - Kick Some Ass
Jeff Lynne - Lift Me Up
Saul Willaims - List of Demands
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
Electric Light Orchestra - Livin' Thing
Vampire Weekend - M79
Lagwagon - Making Friends
The Musketeer - Movie Trailer Theme (Craig Armstrong - Escape)
Alien Ant Farm - Movies
New Found Glory - Glory of Love
Lagwagon - No One Like You
Jimmy Eat World - No Sensitivity
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
Andrew W.K. - Party Hard
Weezer - Pork and Beans
Disturbed - Prayer
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom
Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We're Goin' Down
System of a down - Aerials
Reel Big Fish - Take on Me
Boondock Saints - The Blood of Cuchulainn
Europe - The Final Countdown
Cyndi Lauper - The Goonies 'R' Good Enough
Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand a Chance
Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
Mannfred Mann's Earth Band - The Runner
Adema - The Way You Like It
Weezer - This is Such a Pity
System of a down - Toxicity
Annie Lennox - Walking on Broken Glass
My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
The Killers - When You Were Young
Mark Safan - Win in the End
Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid

And here's my dog, listening for the music: