Trail of Seasons...

It's always nice to see an old friend again, how you've been, you've changed your place
It's always nice to see an old friend again, staying on the trail of seasons... Kevn Kinney

The marathon is an old friend. Fall begins the marathon season which for me lasts the next 9 months. Except for Baltimore my friend usually changes its place. This year, my friend (the marathon) and I met in the Adirondacks in New York. On one of the most beautiful and perfect days for marathoning in a spectacular, lakeside setting, I ran a pretty awful race. No matter, I enjoyed my time on the road, the views of the lake, and running through tunnels of trees. I even enjoyed the many hills in the first half of the marathon. The beauty of the marathon is that you never know what you are going to get on any given day - thus the challenge. Like a friend whose mood differs, so does the marathon. On this day, the facade of the marathon was beautiful, happy and appeared to be perfect but the reality was inner turmoil and struggle. Just like with friends, we find our way through to the finish and look forward to the next meeting. The Baltimore marathon truly is an old friend having run it 6 times and although it presents its own challenges, it embraces.

I highly recommend the Adirondack Marathon in Schroon Lake. It is tiny (192 marathoners) but it is well-supported, beautiful, well-organized and brings the community together. It is an event in this sleepy, little, lakeside town - more of an event than in most of the big city marathons. If you haven't run a small-town marathon, you are missing a true community-spirited event. In Schroon Lake, the community knew there was a marathon going on and they were excited about it but in the cities, they just know that there are traffic delays for some reason and they are irritated.

I'm walking to the graveyard, I'm punching in at midnight, I'm waiting for the morning sun to warm up the cobblestones...

My Secret is My Silence...

Hi... I finally got to run the Brielle Day 10K, self-proclaimed as the toughest 10K in NJ. It was tough but I would say that there are others just as tough, the Hopewell Challenge, Woodcliffe Lakes to mention a few. I ran it exactly as I had wanted to - a solid 10K tempo run just under marathon pace. From the description, I knew the hills would be tough but it was also a hot, humid day. I ran 8:10 pace for a 50:42 which is decent on this course for me. I am typically around 46 minutes these days. I do know that I am slowing in the shorter distances and I am also carrying 10 pounds too much which is an additional 20-30 seconds per mile. I also know that it is taking me nearly 3-4 miles to warm up in a race anymore - good for the half or marathon but not so great for the 5K and 10K.

I sat in silence prior to the run. I stood in silence prior to the start. I asked God to let this race be His and to help guide me through it. He did. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

I ran at various times this week - morning and evening. In the 100, you need to run or move continuously for 24-30 hours so you need to feel what it is like running at all times during that period. I need to practice this and plan to run multiple times a day during some of my training. It also helps me clear my head. It is my wilderness. It is my friend.

Next up... Adirondack Marathon

Hi...

Learning To Walk...

I should not be the one learning to walk but I am. Similar to Tom Petty's song Learning To Fly... Yesterday I walked a 4 mile stretch of trail as I continue to consider how I need to be prepared for 100 miles. I will continue to lengthen these walks and then combine them with long runs. I know pure runners out there will say that there is no walking in running but when you consider the distance to be 100 miles, you do what you can to allow you to continually move forward. The forest was serene - quiet, still and the sun going down through the trunks of the trees just as I saw it a few weeks before in the morning as it was rising. The sun rises and sets and with it another day, another day of opportunity, opportunity for whatever you want it to be.

I also ran a solid half-marathon on Sunday in the middle of the day. I needed to rn hard for more reasons than one. I needed to mentally and phsyically exhaust myself. It was a solid tempo pace and give me hope for the Adirondack marathon next weekend.

Today I was off for my typical 5 miler before work and a few sets of pushups. I also signed up for the Hill and Dale 10K in Brielle. Supposedly, it is a challenging, hilly course but I need to run a good tempo run on a hilly course to continue to have confidence in running in the Adirondacks.

Just like a one-year old, I will continue learning to walk...