One reason why I run

I came across this great runner's-view writeup of "runner's high" at A Trail Runner's Blog. Here's a link. I'll make it a point to follow up and check out his links into further research. Regardless, I've experienced that feeling described (also at around the 8-mile mark, curiously, and later as well) and for me it's definitely something I strive to experience.

Thank you Scott Dunlap for publishing/posting that great article.

Did a week just pass by?

I feel like I'm recovering quite well in this second post-marathon week. I've been running a bit, trying to get myself back into my early morning routine. That's been tough because I've been working a lot lately, consequently coming home late and then ending up not getting into bed until late.

I missed my intended Tuesday night body elongation session (aka "yoga"), but I did take advantage of the awesome weather and went for a killer run on the lakefront. 70F out! Since I was "recovering" I only intended to do a quick 4, but because it was so nice and my spirits were good, I ended up doing a smooth 6 miles.

I don't know if it's some kind of irony or some kind of joke Ms. Nature is playing, but I ran again on Wednesday night (little sleep before, couldn't wake up for my regular time) in something that might have been rain, or hail, or freezing rain, or sleet. The wind was pummelling me with this stuff - it was terrible. But, I ended up on a decent run anyway. It seems like my split times are all coming down in general. I'm not training for speed or anything. Well, on this night I was probably just wanting to get it over with.

I finally got my morning run on Friday!

Saturday (today) I made it up and out in time to get to that yoga for runners class. I'm new at that, of course, so I'm likely doing stuff wrong. Nevertheless, I feel good when I'm there and I really like the instructor. Yoga's kind of a trip - it works me out but relaxes me at the same time. I think? I know there are times when I'm pushing myself (which is probably not the "yoga way"), but I'm getting some excellent stretching there. The feeling I have after a good session is not unlike how I feel after a good massage, in fact.

Now I'm off to my weekend! I finished the novel I was reading, "The Historian." Good book, strong story.

Moving my feet again

I did my first post-LA run on Saturday morning, to a "yoga for runners" class. I had every intention of taking it easy (for me), but I completely underestimated the distance from my place to the studio and had to really push to get there on time. It was a great class, and I'll make it my routine for Saturday mornings. That'll give me at least 6 miles, but really at least 8 since I'll do the 4 out & back along the lakefront path. I'm sure I'll be leaving the class and going for my long run Saturdays soon, after giving myself appropriate marathon recovery (and I'm only figuring that out).

On that subject, I'm limiting myself to easy 4-milers this week, even though I really want to do more. It has only been a week since I ran my first marathon! Regardless, the weather on Saturday was awesome, the path was populated with runners (I even heard someone say they had run LA last week!), and I was feeling good to be back out.

I'm going to try to put in this route image.....



Not bad (if I was able to post the image correctly)! By the way, if you use a Garmin GPS (i.e. Forerunner) I recommend checking out SportTracks - it's a great program, and for my purposes much better than Training Center. And, you can edit routes - removing spurious waypoints and such - which TC doesn't let you do. Having said that, ignore those directional indicators....at this zoom level they seem to get confused.

Anyway, the yoga class was really cool. I think I said somewhere that I took my first class from an instructor-friend out in LA, and immediately recognized this as a Good Thing. I've always been curious, honestly. Perhaps nervous about going, even (for stupid reasons, like "what if I'm the only guy"). Now that I've experienced a few, I'm so glad I'm doing it. Without fail I've felt better at the end of a session. If only my schedule and wallet would allow me to do more.

In unrelated news, I'm totally enthralled with this book called "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It's a fascinating historical fiction involving Vlad Tepes, the Count Dracula.

A series of "firsts"

My first marathon - success. I finished, in about 5:12 according to the chip (that's pretty darn official, huh?). My GPS has me at around 5:08 or so. Whatever. I finished. It was a hot day, and the hills were all in the last 5 miles. I had a ton of fun. I trained seriously for a couple of months in our dread Chicago winter, so I don't have any reason to complain at all.

I also experienced yoga for the first time. What a great feeling that was! I've been to 3 classes now, 2 out in LA and one here in Chicago last night. I felt a lot better after last night's class (I'm definitely in need of some recovery).

I was also in a car accident, my first. No injuries, no fault, just an unfortunate event. I'll always get the rental car insurance though, that made everything easy.

I really wanted to break 5 hours on Sunday. My good friend Kevin (whom I blame for putting me up to doing the marathon) paced really well together through most of the race. He's truly faster and leaner than I am, but I went ahead on the hills going into Boyle Heights after about mile 22. We didn't care. We had to walk some just because the constant sun beating down on us was really draining. We were both feeling really thirsty yet full at the same time. The gatorade needed to be chased by water.

I was wearing a Universal Sole shirt (my local store, excellent place - http://www.universalsole.com), and a few people recognized Chicago - that was very cool. It was also really cool having people yell out your name in support. I wonder who that brunette around mile 1 was...I never saw her again.

I've already signed up for Chicago on October 7.