Discoveries in the Bitter Cold

Monday,  I had the wonderful privilege of running six miles at an astounding 10 degrees below zero.  I headed out for my run at about 5:00 pm and despite being chilled to the bone, I actually enjoyed it.  There's simply nothing quite like it.  The cold seems to have this phenomenal way of heightening your senses.  The wind feels sharper, the air seems crisper, and the stars look a little brighter.  It's like someone  pulls away the veil and suddenly you are aware for the first time.

I had that same feeling earlier in the day on my drive to work.  I was sitting in my car, waiting for the light to turn green, and then suddenly noticed exhaust billowing out from the truck in front of me.  I watched it for a few seconds and then turned away only to see similar results from other cars on the road.  Car after car coughing up toxic fumes all around me.  Thinking I could escape the scene I looked towards the Montpelier skyline only to be greeted by plumes of smoke and steam spewing out of the distant buildings.  As I sat there, contemplating the environmental impacts of the human machine, I couldn't help but think that on a warmer day the issue of air pollution probably wouldn't have even entered my purview.

Sadly to say, that seems to be the case for many environmental issues.  All too often they only seem to exist when they are staring us straight in the face and we have no choice but to stare straight back.  It's partially because a lot of issues are invisible to the naked eye (carbon dioxide, phosphorous, etc.) but also because we have become so numb to them that it's takes something absolutely shocking to get our attention.  As an example, how many times a day do we drive or walk by a stray piece of trash and simply disregard it.  Would our reaction change if it turned into a pile or even mountain?
    
Image from: Day in Pictures January 24, 2011 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12266102>

Running Through the Doldrums

If you've ever tried running consistently you might agree with me that the first two to three weeks are quite simply the worst.  You're out of breath after every run, your muscles are sore, and you feel like you couldn't possibly run any faster.  It's a depressing time and a hard one to get through and I think that's why most folks dismiss running so quickly.  However, if you are steadfast and stay on track, you'll catch your breath.  Your muscles will become less sore and you'll push the pace a little more each day.  What was once a two mile crucible will turn into a five mile cruiser.

Over the course of the past 15 years, I've stopped and started running more times than I can count.  I've been through the doldrums many times and have found that perseverance always wins out.  Keep at it and eventually you'll get to a point where your runs feel great.  Maybe I'll meet you there in another week or so.

  

Duck, Duck, Goose, Goose

So you may be thinking that this post will be about ducks, but actually it has nothing to do with them.  And oddly enough, it doesn't have anything to do with geese either.  However, it does have something to do with goose eggs, which some runners use as code for those dreadful days where zeros creep into your training schedule.  I unfortunately had two such days last week.

When I was a bit younger and running a bit more competitively, zero mileage days would shine like giant beacons of disappoint from my running log.  Even with my eyes shut tight I could see them, a constant reminder of the gaping holes I had created in my training.  Now, I take them in stride.  Perhaps it's age or perhaps it's experience, either way I don't see a problem anymore with taking days off from time to time.  Besides, it wasn't laziness or lack of motivation that kept me from running two days in a row (which does happen more then we'd like), but a swelling of my knee and a burning pain in my achilles which came about from probably being a little too ambitious in my pacing on some of my longer runs.

In any case, I took some needed rest, came back at a slower pace, and know that those two gaping holes will quickly be filled in the coming weeks.

Fear of the Dark

It's now Wednesday and I have successfully run for the past four days.  Not much to write home about but a victory nonetheless given my inconsistent mileage leading up to this point.  As much as I adore running, I've always found it difficult to stay consistent during the week.  I've tried running in the morning, running at lunch, and running in the evening.  In all cases, there is some factor that discourages my better half from making a consorted effort to force me out the door.  In the morning it's the difficulty of waking up.  At lunch, it's my pleading stomach, and at night it's the ominous darkness.  The latter was especially prevalent this Tuesday.

I got home at about 5:10 and immediately headed out the door.  There was still a bit of light on the horizon but I brought my headlamp knowing that the light would soon fade out over the mountains.  I decided to do a quick five miles and headed down a familiar route.  I ran for most of it with my headlamp off, soaking in the freedom of the darkness and listening to the rush of the nearby stream.  Although I was wearing a bright yellow reflective running top, I would quickly turn on my headlamp for approaching cars and turn it off as they passed.  It doesn't hurt to be extra safe.  By the time I hit mile four, it was difficult to see but I had become accustomed to it.  I was truly enjoying being one with the darkness.  Soon after, I felt a sudden tug at my ankles.  I felt a rush of adrenaline in my body and a chill as I exclaimed loudly (and at quite a high pitch I might add).  Could it be a coyote?  A bobcat?  Perhaps a fabled mountain lion?  No, it was but a small black dog who thought it would be funny to surprise me in the night.  I laughed to myself as he followed me part of the way home.   My headlamp stayed on for the rest of the run.

2011 Is Off and Running!

Happy New Year everyone.  Today was just a fantastic start to 2011.  I woke up at about 7:00 this morning in a rustic cabin nestled deep within the Green Mountain National Forest.  I was fortunate enough to be able to spend New Years Eve with my fiancee and some close friends at a family camp down in East Wallingford.  After a relaxing morning, I scarfed down some bacon and chocolate pancakes, said my goodbyes, and skied the roughly two miles out to the car.  Two hours later, I was home in Worcester with my running shoes on and one foot out the door.

It was about 42 degrees as I took my first few steps down the driveway.  I thought I'd get ahead of the game with a long run today so I took my time and ran a slow pace to start.  One and a half miles in I was just starting to hit my stride and kicked it up to a moderate pace.  At three miles I was dreading the hilly roads of Middlesex but still feeling strong.  Five miles later most of the hills were behind me and I slipped into a steady cadence.  A slight rain fell at mile 11 as I passed my house and mad the decision to put in an additional mile for good measure.

12 miles under my belt today and many more to go.  It's been over a year since I've ran that kind of mileage  and I may be regretting it tomorrow but sometimes you just have to let the momentum take you.
Besides, it feels good to be under the 2000 mark after the first day.

Cheers,

Justin