Peguin Perspective

So now that I figured out how to do RSS feeds, I can stay up on my blogs.
Today from the Penguin:

"And I think, as you get older, the end of every Summer starts to mean a little more and I think you feel the loss a little more deeply. When I was younger I thought I'd have all the Summers I'd ever want. Now, I'm not so sure.

What helps is running. Running and walking, really. Getting out there along MY lakefront, looking at MY city, moving MY body is all I can do. Most days it's plenty. Other days, there aren't enough miles to make the feelings go away."

He's in Chicago and running the lakefront. I had the pleaseure of running the lakefront last summer (it was sooo hot). The picture he has on this blog was one that I took in my mind. It's a gorgeous view.

I also like his sentiment. I went running yesterday afternoon/evening right before sunset. Fall has been in the mountains for a couple weeks, but this week it's made it into the valley. The Island trail is all yellow and the view of the Island below and the bench in the distance is great. I felt fortunate that I decided to go for an evening run instead of a pre-dawn run so I could take in the season before it's gone. I still think I have plenty of Falls left, but I'll have to wait a full year for the next one.

The way he feels about Chicago is the way I came to feel about DC through running. I'm thinking that running will also help me bond with my new home.

Zero to Boston

Dean Schuster's Zero to Boston is my favorite running blog. I love this guy's spirit; I love the way he writes. His ultra race report is classic in my book. He was on blogging hiatus for a while. I kept on checking. I was so excited when he posted in August, but so sad when it was just telling all of us fans to give him a break. So left out in the cold by Dean, I moved on I guess, not to something better, just let it go. Maybe there'll never be another Zero to Boston, it'll be the blog that got awya. I actually forgot about him after a while. Well, just like that he's gotten back in the game and gotten rather prolific. I have to catch up! So exciting. I know I shouldn't be here hanging on his every word, but it's just so good.

Dean being the way he is--just does everything better. I'm always encouraging other people to take up running. It's really hard to explain why. I just want this for other people. Not the beating ones self up that I have been doing way too much since starting this blog, but the enjoyment piece. Running is great. Here's how Dean feels. Me too!!! me too.

I'm going to save the rest for later....sure just like I planned to take more than a day to read The Deathly Hallows and the weekly Ugly Betty DVRed episode gets saved for the weekend.

If you do pick up the Zero to Boston habit, make sure to click on the links to the more detailed writings that he does, e.g., the race reports.

Delightful Run

Normally, D & I do our long run on Saturdays, more recently E has been joining us as well (3 years in Logan, so she brings some local knowledge to the group). It's been great having partners to get me through the longest runs of training. But this Saturday, the weather was just horrible (freezing rain/sleet, 35 degrees), and I had my last 20 miler before the marathon, so I wanted to finish it. I ran 13 in cold rain last week and my hips were really hurting by the end, so I was worried about the impact of cold.

Anyway, D and E decided to go yesterday instead. It was gorgeous. There was snow on the mountains and the fall foliage is still out. I wanted to get pictures of the Wellsvilles from the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, so I started out there. I completely compromised my plan to get in 10 before D & E joined me by only going 3 miles in my first hour because I was taking so many pictures. But I think that's really what I enjoy about running. It gets me out there when I wouldn't other wise and I see things that I would otherwise miss. I'm thinking that might be a better approach for me than aiming to qualify for Boston. We'll see how I feel after the MCM.

I did manage to get in 8 before D & E joined, so I was with them through the toughest part of the run. I ended up only going 18.5 though because my hips were in pain. I really hope to get off work in time to join the yoga class that D & K recommend. I think that and some swimming will help me recover.

D was really positive with me, it reminds me of how I talk to other runners; but I've really gotten away from "easy does it" for myself. She told me to not over do it. Basically, the only thing that can go wrong now is to over train and injure myself. I ran 22 two weeks ago, 18 this week and had another 19 miler in my build up. In my head, I know I can run a marathon, but I don't feel all that strong. I don't know if it's that the altitude has taken such a toll or if it's because I have been working myself harder or if I've actually lost fitness.

While we were running yesterday, I remembered that it was the day of the Chicago Marathon and I thought of the Capital Striders in DC that were planning to run it. It was such a lovely day for a run (here) and I thought about how nice it would be to be running Chicago. Of course, it turned out horrible for them. My heart goes out to the people that trained so hard and traveled there only to have such bad conditions and canceled race. When conditions were so horrible in Boston this year, it just seemed like it made the runners tough and it would be a bonding experience. This is something entirely different. Boston is known for being tough. Chicago is known for having a lot of positive energy and being newbie friendly. I think it goes to show that if you're going to run marathons, you should probably enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

-Reformed Penguin