Merry Christmas!
Ok, I totally missed saying Merry Christmas on Christmas. Sorry. Hope you and your family had a great day! And if you aren’t celebrating anything in particular, I hope you had a great day anyway (and hopefully the traffic wasn’t too bad).
I’ve had a pretty good week for running. I missed Tuesday’s run due to shopping and Cubscouts getting in the way, but other than that I am still on track for The Bay.
Yesterday the weather was just beautiful. It was 40F outside, with sun. I was out running in the mud and snow on the road and there were these two women running up ahead. I passed them on this sharp 90 degree turn in the road just as cars were passing from both directions. Just when all five of us were converging on the same point, we heard BLAM BLAM BLAM from some jack-ass shooting in his field about 100 yards from us.
It was all just amazing because I almost never encounter people, and its rare to see cars on that turn, and I’m usually never so close to the yahoos shooting their weapons. There they all were at once. Planets aligning and everything, I should have bought a lottery ticket.
The run was pretty good despite the excitment. I had 6 on the schdule and ended up doing 6.1 in 52:48, which ended up being 8:38/mile. I think 8:23 is my 10K PR, and that was in nice conditions without the gunfire.
I felt really good about the run, even though it was faster than I was supposed to do. It made me feel like I was getting something back that I had lost. All the injuries have been kept away lately with the low mileage (~15 miles/week). I’m glad I stuck with it so far. It made me think about that verse from The Simon and Garfunkle song:
In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminder of every glove that laid him down or cut him
‘Til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes, he still remains……………………
Usually, that line makes me think of Wil, but yesterday I felt like it was about me. Somehow I could really relate to that feeling.
I got my official certificate in the mail this week from the Detroit Marathon. It had my time and place in my age group and overall. It was a dreadful reminder of how things fell apart, and I don’t feel good about putting it on a plaque or anything. Still, I do feel good about framing the bib, medal, and the race brochure. I don’t need to remember the time and placing, just that I ran, I finished, and I’m still running.
I’m almost there. :)
December 26th, 2005 08:39
Cool, I never get the first comment in here…
Nice run! You are definitely “back”!!
I know what you mean about the certificate and the framing, etc. After my marathon I called up the company that I had ordered the bib frame from, and told them to just put my name and “first marathon” on it. I didn’t need or want the time on it. I just want to commemorate that I did it. (I still haven’t received the frame, and they’ll probably screw up that request anyway.)
Here’s to a great 2006!
December 26th, 2005 09:56
Great run!! It’s good to see you back to your speedy self! I bet the hunters think the planets aligned all at once as well - imagine their excitement at so many targets so close to each other!! I’m not sure how the Dazer works in a gun fight though.
Merry (belated) Christmas!!
December 26th, 2005 11:12
I too was the happiest woman alive when I finally got back to running 3 times a week after my hip injury. It was so frustrating but persevering was worth it and I am finally racing 10K’5 and 5K’s again. Congrats on the marathon, even if it didn’t go as planned just that you put in the training and went out there and finished is more than most people would even think about doing!
December 26th, 2005 11:45
Merry Christmas, Jon! You are the bomb!!
December 26th, 2005 12:02
Oh wow, what a sweet thing for you to say!! I love that song!
And it sounds like you’re back in force my friend! Now, just stick and move…stick and move ;)
December 26th, 2005 14:52
Glad to hear that you’re feeling like you’re back in the ring.
December 26th, 2005 16:26
Congrats on the speedy run! Hope your holiday was wonderful.
December 26th, 2005 18:14
I’m just glad your back! Merry Christmas!
December 26th, 2005 18:25
Yay! Jon’s back! And don’t beat yourself up if you have more ups and downs. (I’m saying the same thing to myself). I love that you had a great run.
December 26th, 2005 19:02
“So how does it feel to be on your own?”
Running like a rabbit in the winter time.
Excellent pace for the conditions. Even better that nothing hurts. Don’t push it now. Keep that mileage low until you’re bored silly. Then inch it up. There’s plenty of time until The Bay.
December 26th, 2005 20:59
Merry Christmas Jon! Good job on the run.
December 27th, 2005 12:34
cool, glad your happy with your run!!!
Heather
December 28th, 2005 16:01
I love Simon and Garfunkel!!
December 30th, 2005 23:31
Got my NYC certificate this week - much the same thoughts. Glad it’s over. Glad to be running again.