Worth Every Second....

At approximately 10 past midnight on a Sunday, 2 hours and 41 minutes in to a 2 hours and 45 minutes run (or just short of 19 miles at the time), after a day spent doing what was likely an unexaggerated 8 hours of homework (therein prohibiting me from watching the USA vs. Japan soccer mash-up) and an hour and a half of mowing, I glanced up at the sky (probably because I was losing motor function in my neck) and saw a single shooting star. And it was all—-the lost hours and sore muscles—-suddenly worth every second.

Helen Observations and Mad Marsh Expectations

Julia, the pups and I traveled up to Helen, GA (approximately a 5-hour drive) this past weekend for some expected mountain fun and relaxation. We accomplished both. In fact, we had so much fun that I didn’t run a single time (in three days), though the steepness of the aforementioned mountains (during our daily hikes) didn’t really clue my not-used-to-hills legs in to that fact. Observations from the trip:

1.) Giant hunks of aged meat, as well as asparagus, on the grill = a gluttonous good time
2.) Not having to leash your dog, while also not having to worry about her dog running into traffic or falling down a mountainside and breaking her spindly legs = a gratifying good time
3.) Having perfect weather for hiking (sunny and in the low 70s) during the day, followed by perfect weather for hot tubbing (high 30s) in the evening = a grievous good time

Tonight will be the last time I run prior to Saturday’s Mad Marsh 50k (seven 4.5-mile laps, which will actually make it a tad longer than a true 50k), so I’ll likely only put in 4-5 miles at a nice, easy pace. My goals for the Mad Marsh 50k:

1.) Eat and hydrate consistently and enough
2.) Finish in 5 hours
3.) Win

There are currently only about 30 people slated to run Mad Marsh, and with the course described as being “flat as a pancake,” I like my chances to accomplish all three of my objectives listed above (#1 will be assisted by my ability to visit the aid station each lap). But whether I do or not, I’m using this as nothing more than a way to get in a lengthy fun run for training purposes. It’s just that winning, in a respectable time (to me), would help me start my morning off on the right foot…making that evening’s Roller Derby viewing and beer-partaking that much more glee-inspiring.

Calli will be intently waiting to hear the result….



...and if I don't hit upon all my goals, she has already promised to get the following song stuck in my head (the title of which she will direct at me; she has high expectations and quite the temper, it seems):

Lack of Motivation

This is the longest I’ve gone without updating my blog since its inception—slightly over three weeks, which have been filled with a Beer Fest, a visitation from my grandfather, and football (amongst other things). I’ve been eating out far more regularly than prior to this span, and being an evening runner, this has caused me to either cut short or altogether skip my runs. I’ve been staying up later and sleeping worse/less, which has sapped my energy and has not lent itself to A+ results. I’ve been eating and drinking worse/more than usual (which, admittedly, could be construed as a direct result of some of my aforementioned points). And I’ll readily admit that I’ve allowed these things—my social calendar, so to speak--to eek into my running plans far more often than I should, or is normal. Is this wholly due to the “perfect storm” of distracters, or is there something more there?—a lack of excitement, perhaps? It’s true that I really do love running, but it’s also true that I like having a point in the not-so-distant-future wherein I have something to look forward to; a race to hone in on and for which to set goals. So, I’ll be increasingly scanning the world wide web in search of said race(s), and have chalked this latest bout of ‘ineptitude’ to what was likely a much-needed break. As previously mentioned in a past post, I’ve got the FATS 50k (which I’m using more as a fun-run-on-trails than a race) lurking on the horizon (a week and a half from now—Sunday, October 3), and will try and have another ultra lined up by/near that time. Perhaps the Mother Road 100, in Tulsa, OK?

Weekly mileage (to this point, again keeping in mind that I’m starting with Monday and not Sunday): 9.89 miles (I took Monday AND Wednesday off, thus the meager output thus far)
Last week’s mileage: 29.68 miles (FOR SHAME!)

Fun observations/soundbytes:

1.) Only in Georgia can the top prize in a 5k road race be an M4 assault rifle. I’m not making this up. It seems Georgia is attempting to create a new kind of biathlete.
2.) The Island’s YMCA is a short distance from my house (approximately 1 mile) and features a paved, winding 1-mile track around it. Thus this is a regular destination for me, especially when I’m in the mood to see or be seen by other exercisers. Late last week, I rounded a bend on this track to find two small scooter-wielding children (a boy and a girl, perhaps 5 and 4 in age respectively) and a woman I assume to be their mother. I was running sans shirt, as I often do. This apparently vexed the boy, who loudly asked of his mother “he’s not wearing a shirt?” The mother laughed heartily. I did as well. I also laughingly apologized (to the tike), not knowing what else to say/do. It seems Georgia is attempting to create a community of prudes.

Cats, Ducks and Turtles (Oh My!)

Only when running will you see the following things within a two-week span:

1.) A cat being chased (and dive-bombed) by two birds
2.) A one-legged duck, hopping out of your path
3.) Three separate turtles in need of mid-street rescuing
4.) A cat romping through its yard…with a snake dangling out of its mouth
5.) A souped-up, bright blue/purple Buick with custom Wolverine-busting-out-of-the-paint job graphics on both the hood and side panels, along with a three tiered horn mounted on the front

Other observations from recent runs:

1.) I hated horseflies when I was a youngster at the local swimming hole. In the years since, they have done nothing to allay that feeling.
2.) Puppies are cute, even when they don’t listen to their shouting masters and run alongside you, yanking on your shoelaces.

And, from the “I could have told you that” file:

1.) Georgia heat/humidity is not what one would consider “ideal” for many-mile runs, no matter the hour you venture out (though it certainly helps to have a bike-with-a-large-basket riding mother that can tag along and tote much-needed fluid replacements from time to time).

Monthly mileage, to date: 140.44 miles, with a week and a half to go.

How I’m feeling:
Body: legs are decently, but not overly, tired
Mind: tired—I’ve got to work on getting to bed (and actually turning off the lights) earlier
Spirit: undaunted, and progressively getting more excited (so much so that, a week ago, it took me over an hour to get to sleep, due to thinking about the race; first time that’s ever happened a month out from an event)

Only 22 days until the big race.