Run Before You Walk

About six weeks ago I decided that I needed something to inspire me to pick up my running training and mindful eating in the hopes of an improved overall fitness level before departing for the UK in June. Historically, having an upcoming running event (some folks call them races but that word to me implies speed and competition and therefore is inappropriate in my world) has given me the distance goal and date to force me to start running with a little more purpose. With that in mind I went online to find a 10K event before I left. I settled on the Gresham Lilac Run. This run had my desired distance and worked in my timeframe. Also, the proceeds went to a fantastic organization, Girls On The Run. I signed up as did my good friend Fritz. I found an iPhone app that would put me on a training schedule to be able to run the whole distance by the event date of May 26th. Look out world, I was back and going to crush this 10K just like the old days.

I even ran in the rain because I’m a straight up warrior.

So anyway, you know how some people get “aha” moments where they have a moment of clarity and discover something really important? I am much more likely to have an “oh shit” moment where I have a moment of clarity and discover something really important that I completely forgot or screwed up. I had one of those moments when I received a packet pickup email from the run telling me they were excited to see me at the race on May 7th. Why I thought it was on the 26th I have no idea. I felt a little better when I asked Fritz if he wanted me to pick up his race packet for him and he asked what I was talking about. Apparently it had snuck up on him as well.

I jumped ahead two weeks on my training program and was able to sustain longer running intervals. I even got out for a run when I was in Tahoe for a visit with friends. Fun fact, running at 5817’ altitude in Tahoe instead of the standard 102’ in Portland can make a person wheeze, cough and even see white spots. 1/5 stars. Would not recommend.

I know it looks beautiful but what this picture doesn’t convey is that absolute lack of life sustaining oxygen

This past Saturday Fritz and I ventured out to Gresham in a substantial rain and ran the 10K. Fritz did amazing and I jogged along at my standard pace (which has been described as plodding, shuffling, bumbling and my personal favorite - lurching) and was really quite pleased with how it went. Of course I then made a wrong turn and ended up on the half marathon course so I inadvertently ran an 11.2K. I feel like the fact I somehow got lost during an organized running event doesn’t bode well for me walking solo across the English countryside, I guess we’ll see.

Fritz and I at the event. The results say I came in 90th but there was no screening for PEDs so I suspect most of the people who beat me were doping.

So that’s it for running training for now. I’m concentrating on hiking until I leave. Michele and I went out for a 9 mile hike on Sunday that consisted of beautiful forests and creeks along with unending hills and more rain. In hindsight, I probably should’ve taken at least a day off. I dropped an airpod while watching a movie last night and rather than deal with the tightness and pain required to get out of my chair and bend down I decided to just read instead. I guess I will never know how Ernest Saves Christmas ends. I’m at peace with that.