Fun run last night. I was able to finally hit the asphalt about 8:30 and it was still 60 degrees. Can't beat that right now. Even more couldn't beat the feeling from miles 3-8.5. It was only a 8.5 miler by the way. Yet those 5 miles or more were near perfect. Fast for me, yet not as fast as my Surf City Pace during the same mileage. I am happy with it though and will do another tonight.
Yep another. I am starting to feel unworthy of the phrase or self description - "I am runner." Meaning, I read some wonderful blogs by ultra and trail runners. Read one with this AM, one of my Favorites - Rundangerously. While I was happy with my 8 miles on Saturday, day off Sunday and 8.5 last night. He knocked down two, count them two 20 mile days in a row. Then the day before reading Kelly from Running Free - oh just a little 33 miler over the weekend with friends on the trail. All this and reading Race Reports from Rocky Raccoon 100 miler - I am a teenie tiny little weenie who should never dawn the phrase casually - "oh, yeah, I am runner." I am a pretender! Or, maybe a runner in embryo. Whatever, I am not worthy. I am humble man.
In the least I do have healthy legs and lungs. I have a favorite shoe to run in, along with a few pairs of great shorts and some T's to go with it. A few personal accomplishments getting across the finish line as well. What I don't have - the body to get me where my mind would like to go. Maybe over time. Yet, at 43 that is running out some.
Despite all the above, I am pretty happy. So, don't get me wrong. I am just humbled with each read of these "real" runners blogs.
Slice of Slomo Happiness:
1. Making a sack lunch for my wife each AM. She can go buy whatever she wants for lunch. Yet, all she wants is the exact same lunch I make for our 3 school bound kids each day. Sandwich, Bag of Sun Chips, Apple, Orange or Banana (her choice) and a bottle of water. All neatly packed into a small pink hand bag with a playful monkey on it. It was donated to her by our daughter. I love my wife.
2. Kids going back to school after a long weekend. Each one turned back looking at me as I dropped them off. Looking at me like - I miss ya Dad already. Love them all.
3. Freedom of Speech and the Right to Assemble.
4. Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, Tom Petty, Kate Bush, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave and The Velvet Underground.
5. Fixing the Leak in our Toilet.
6. 68 degrees and Sun with kids going to school in short sleeves in Feb.!
7. Libraries
8. Dr. Seuss and William Shakespeare
9. NPR
10. Nick, jr. - love those early Spongebob episodes.
Cheers!
8 comments:
I am like you, I read those ultra blogs and I cringe. Yet I actually want to do that crazy stuff?! SLOMO you are a runner, don't tell yourself otherwise! Keep up the excellent work!!
Slomo, you are a runner!! You are so crazy:) I am so jealous of your 60 degree weather in February and the fact that you had a near perfect feeling run! I have not had one of those runs in some time:) I love the Eagles too:) Happy Tuesday!!
Ditto on the 60 degrees. Again. I have issued an invitation to Old Man Winter to visit you and leave us alone for a bit - hope he takes it!!!
Mileage does not a runner make young man - you are a real runner Slomo! I do like the running embryo idea!! BTW, haven't you read that 43 is the "new" 23? At least I'll be telling myself that in a month or so :)
I love HT's comment, 43 is the new 23! Funny guy, you ARE a runner. I think back to the first race report from your Disneyland race last year and I remember your dedication and devotion for your sister(?)and the reasons you started running. That's what matters, not the miles nor the pace. Keep moving forward, you're worthy.
I hope you are a runner -- if you are not one (or if its close), I am way out of the money! I am sure you are -- anyone who can run 8 miles at pace qualifies!
Slomo - you *are* a runner. Nothing says that we need to be fast, or run far to be a runner. Bing a runner is more a state of mind that says that you are committed to putting one foot in front of the other.
About that ultra stuff... I'm taking the plunge. After talking to several freinds who do it, the challenge is finishing the distance, not the speed with which that is done. Pushing myself 20, 30, 40 miles sounds pretty intriguing. And remember - I'm 10 years older than you! Join me! You liked that trail race up by Lake Mead didn't you?
Hi Slomo,
I just tagged you:)
Fiddlesticks Slomo, I'll echo everyone here too. You are a bloody runner (or is that a bloody minded runner).
I certainly feel this way (working my way through similar feelings over the past few days as well) on occasion. When I do, I always think about when I started—that agonizing fitness test 1-miler that took me 17 minutes. And now, I can, as I did today, throw down a 10-miler.
So, think about where you were and where you are . . . ;-)
Post a Comment