BURBANK, CA -- Maybe it is because I am crazy. Maybe it is because I want a killer workout. Most likely, it is because I want the challenge. There really is no crazy health benefit to running 26.2 miles. The key is to live an active lifestyle, which absolutely can include some running, but more than that, the point is to get outside and move around. But what fun is that without a challenge?
This Sunday, in about 34 hours, I will be running in my third Half Marathon, the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach, California. I grew up and didn't especially love running the mile. A couple of times I ran a 5K, and I was convinced I would never run a foot beyond that. Well, in August 2010 for a variety of reasons, those plans changed, and very slowly and painstakingly I got comfortable running 5K's, then doubled that distance and pulled off a 10K. Convinced yet again that I wouldn't go any further, I hurt myself pretty badly about a year ago in a treadmill accident. I was just running a few miles, with the intention of staying in shape in the cold Chicago winter (apparently this year it is mild, but last year, it was pretty bad). In the middle of my max-speed, full-stride, the motor of our old treadmill died, and the belt stopped. In the tenth of a second I had to process this, I managed to brace my upper body for the collision, and managed to prevent any serious damage. That said, I completely tweaked my lower body - you simply cannot go from running full speed to a full stop in a tenth of a second. It is just not possible.
It was tough to move for a few days, and then I stayed away from working out for a few weeks. In March 2011 I moved out here to southern California, and I decided that if I was going to get back on the horse, I needed to go all-out. I signed up for the Orange County Half Marathon, and slowly started running in March, but really kicked it into gear in April, when I ran a whopping 59.3 miles. The half was on May 1, and in the best shape in years, I smoked the trail in 2:05:44.
From there, the injuries began. I managed an okay 10 mile run at the Soldier Field "Finish on the 50" four weeks later, but overall slowed down the pace, and started seeing the podiatrist. They got me orthotics, which helped, but only to an extent. I had awful toenail issues, and then in the fall, having already signed up for the Long Beach Half Marathon, I pulled my achilles tendon. I got myself a brace and ended up walking for 4-5 miles, finishing in an extremely disappointing 2:35:43. What the heck happened? I lost a half an hour on my time, and was in a high level of pain. I had to call it quits.
That run was on October 9th. I didn't run again until November. I had my toes cleaned up, got new shoes and new orthotics, and got to the point where the achilles was healed and the pain was gone. In exchange for the lack of exercise, however, I put on a little weight, and so the challenge was set.
The Orange County and Long Beach Half Marathons are sister races, along with Surf City. Combined, there is the "Beach Cities Challenge." If you run all three consecutively, back-to-back-to-back, you get a special tri-cities medal (as a side note, the final chance to complete the challenge will be Surf City 2013, which means to do it, you will have to start with OC 2012, in May). Well, having done two of the three, I figured I had to do the third, and I had just enough time to get going again. In November I ran 42.8 miles, including a solid 10K Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving. In December that was 27.8 miles, but I considered that to be pretty impressive given the two and a half weeks in Antarctica, where I managed only one run. This January? I shattered my April 2011 record and ran 87.3 miles. I have also been using My Fitness Pal to track food consumption, and it has proved a huge help. In the past two months, I have lost 10 pounds now, and am only another 10 more away from my low since High School.
So... where does that leave us? Sunday is the Surf City Half, and I know I am going to crush my Long Beach time, but I am not entirely sure I will beat my OC time. I will be happy if I finish under 2:15, really happy if I beat my 2:05:44 PR, and my "stretch" goal is a sub-two hour finish, which may or may not be possible, but that is what I am hoping for. In order to do so, I need an average pace of 9:09/mile or better, which I pulled off over nine miles in ideal weather a few weeks ago. For the longer runs, the heat threw me off. Luckily, the weather forecast is ideal, so I do think I have a shot - only time will tell!
Which brings us back to today. This morning an email went out informing readers that the Chicago Marathon, in under 48 hours, had filled up over 30,000 spots, out of only 45,000 available. My original plan was to register after successfully running on Sunday. Well, I didn't want to miss out on my opportunity, and I decided to go for it. Why not? Like the things most enjoyable in life (travel, anybody?), one of the mentalities with which we engage them is that wherein we only get to live once. Let's make the most of it. Challenge yourself, and enjoy the limitless joy of conquering those challenges. October 7th, 2012 - bring it on Chicago. I'll see you in 26.2.
This Sunday, in about 34 hours, I will be running in my third Half Marathon, the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach, California. I grew up and didn't especially love running the mile. A couple of times I ran a 5K, and I was convinced I would never run a foot beyond that. Well, in August 2010 for a variety of reasons, those plans changed, and very slowly and painstakingly I got comfortable running 5K's, then doubled that distance and pulled off a 10K. Convinced yet again that I wouldn't go any further, I hurt myself pretty badly about a year ago in a treadmill accident. I was just running a few miles, with the intention of staying in shape in the cold Chicago winter (apparently this year it is mild, but last year, it was pretty bad). In the middle of my max-speed, full-stride, the motor of our old treadmill died, and the belt stopped. In the tenth of a second I had to process this, I managed to brace my upper body for the collision, and managed to prevent any serious damage. That said, I completely tweaked my lower body - you simply cannot go from running full speed to a full stop in a tenth of a second. It is just not possible.
It was tough to move for a few days, and then I stayed away from working out for a few weeks. In March 2011 I moved out here to southern California, and I decided that if I was going to get back on the horse, I needed to go all-out. I signed up for the Orange County Half Marathon, and slowly started running in March, but really kicked it into gear in April, when I ran a whopping 59.3 miles. The half was on May 1, and in the best shape in years, I smoked the trail in 2:05:44.
 |
| May 1, 2011 - Happily cruising along in the Orange County, Half Marathon |
From there, the injuries began. I managed an okay 10 mile run at the Soldier Field "Finish on the 50" four weeks later, but overall slowed down the pace, and started seeing the podiatrist. They got me orthotics, which helped, but only to an extent. I had awful toenail issues, and then in the fall, having already signed up for the Long Beach Half Marathon, I pulled my achilles tendon. I got myself a brace and ended up walking for 4-5 miles, finishing in an extremely disappointing 2:35:43. What the heck happened? I lost a half an hour on my time, and was in a high level of pain. I had to call it quits.
That run was on October 9th. I didn't run again until November. I had my toes cleaned up, got new shoes and new orthotics, and got to the point where the achilles was healed and the pain was gone. In exchange for the lack of exercise, however, I put on a little weight, and so the challenge was set.
The Orange County and Long Beach Half Marathons are sister races, along with Surf City. Combined, there is the "Beach Cities Challenge." If you run all three consecutively, back-to-back-to-back, you get a special tri-cities medal (as a side note, the final chance to complete the challenge will be Surf City 2013, which means to do it, you will have to start with OC 2012, in May). Well, having done two of the three, I figured I had to do the third, and I had just enough time to get going again. In November I ran 42.8 miles, including a solid 10K Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving. In December that was 27.8 miles, but I considered that to be pretty impressive given the two and a half weeks in Antarctica, where I managed only one run. This January? I shattered my April 2011 record and ran 87.3 miles. I have also been using My Fitness Pal to track food consumption, and it has proved a huge help. In the past two months, I have lost 10 pounds now, and am only another 10 more away from my low since High School.
Which brings us back to today. This morning an email went out informing readers that the Chicago Marathon, in under 48 hours, had filled up over 30,000 spots, out of only 45,000 available. My original plan was to register after successfully running on Sunday. Well, I didn't want to miss out on my opportunity, and I decided to go for it. Why not? Like the things most enjoyable in life (travel, anybody?), one of the mentalities with which we engage them is that wherein we only get to live once. Let's make the most of it. Challenge yourself, and enjoy the limitless joy of conquering those challenges. October 7th, 2012 - bring it on Chicago. I'll see you in 26.2.
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