Challenging myself again and have signed up for the 2011 Suntrust Marathon. Lately running 26 miles non stop seems a bit crazy. It fits though I love that crazy mode when I am able to say I did something that no one else I know has done.
The worst that can happen while training for this is that I have a goal with small steps to reach it and another reason to complain. Last week, from Sunday to Saturday I ran 30 miles total and completed 5 consecutive days of running between 4 and 7.5 miles.
5.5 Southern to Marlboro Saturday November 27
Last night I ran 5.5 from the house to Southern Avenue to Marlboro Pike to Alabama Avenue to Minnesota to 30th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue to Branch. It was a night run kind of cold it took 60 minutes. I should note this run ends with several large hills (Penn ave and Branch).
6.5 1125 Office to Deanwood Recreation Friday November 26
L street to Mass. to New York to L St to Florida to Benning to Minnesota to Sheriff to Meade to Minnesota.
4 Home to St. Barnabas to home Thursday November 25 Thanksgiving Day
6.5 1125 Office to Home Wednesday November 24
7.5 Bally's Treadmill Tuesday November 23
Stay tuned.
I worked on increasing speed and recovery. this running challenge will help me become a better human I am sure.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Swimming a Challenge
I have been off since the 24th of July and have swam everyday but one. I usually swim at least an hour and find it to be a very therapeutic exercise. I now know what the big deal is now. This leg of the tri would propel me into a whole new dynamic in my life: the Triathalon. Wow I would love to add that to my list of accomplishments and have already pushed my self in the water far beyond what I would have every imagined. I am comming to love swimming.
I have incorporated several drills into my swim workout they include the catch up (this is a freestyle drill where the swimmer does not pull unit his hands meet after the last pull), the superman (the swimmer places one hand on his hip and reaches forward with the other and kicks, breathing with a rotation of the body), the pull(the swimmer pulls with only one hand while the other is extended breating only on the side he is pulling), kicking only(with or without the kick board), backstroke streamline, and all with paddles/flippers/buoy.
I have run this week twice and find that my breating seems improved. I would like to think all of those who have encouraged me along the way...Christann, Dawn, Roy, Coach Al, Coach Roger, and Remy. Each in their own way have offered me something that has pushed me to improve. Also, multiple sites on the web, youtube, and swimming blogs also have helped.
I have incorporated several drills into my swim workout they include the catch up (this is a freestyle drill where the swimmer does not pull unit his hands meet after the last pull), the superman (the swimmer places one hand on his hip and reaches forward with the other and kicks, breathing with a rotation of the body), the pull(the swimmer pulls with only one hand while the other is extended breating only on the side he is pulling), kicking only(with or without the kick board), backstroke streamline, and all with paddles/flippers/buoy.
I have run this week twice and find that my breating seems improved. I would like to think all of those who have encouraged me along the way...Christann, Dawn, Roy, Coach Al, Coach Roger, and Remy. Each in their own way have offered me something that has pushed me to improve. Also, multiple sites on the web, youtube, and swimming blogs also have helped.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Prom Action
Prom Action
Washington, D.C. June 1983, something possessed me to ask Blank to the prom and as the fragile and unsure words “would you go to the prom with me?” fell off my trembling lip. The m from the ending of the word prom seemed to meet the n from the word no in mid air. Years later after becoming reacquainted with my yearbook photo did it occur to me why, other than the fact that she didn’t know me, that she may have said no. I was not the guy whose looks got him into doors or panties. My looks where that of a sort of duck as my lips were grown man sized on a just above adolescent frame and face. Simply, she and many others may not have found me appealing. What is interesting about that though is that as history provides retrospect she and I seemed in the middle; not extremely popular, nor loud, and yet fashionable and searching. She was popular in a humble sort of way and this was her most appealing feature. It occurs to me that my wisdom was present back then as asking Blank had less to do with factors other than the dance, the dress up, but more to do with my assessment of a compatible date. Many people knew me, my looks were not atrocious, fashion was in me, and Blank and I were thin, tall, and brown. Later, it occurred to me that knowing a girl helps but on some fronts yet shyness crippled me when it came to certain girls.
Some girls I found easy to talk to and they seemed to capture most of my attention and while great for social training, they rarely held my interest very long or they fell into the category of proof. Proof girls showed the world my interest in women while proving to other girls that I belonged to someone. Girls and later women I found covet what is not theirs. This is not to say that effort with a few on point and main stream, progressive, beautiful, fashionable, and even kind young women were not launched, yet longevity and timing seem to be off and we ended most often as friends.
Later in life this trivial exercise of night time/ daytime girls became common in my travels and like many of those formative traits proved to be a leech on my character and confidence. Simply, it’s always easy when your meager existence dazzles someone opposed to her accomplishment seemingly mediocre. In my neighborhood of social misfit’s finishing school, working, dressing in the latest fashion, and being in the game were enough to establish a pedigree worthy of many offers of sex, girlfriends, and accolades. It occurred to me later that most of those meager accomplishments meant so much to those around me that the plight of so many capable African Americans is in a sort of social vacuum crying to get out. For those who get out the squandering of time leads to a high stakes game of catch up. Reminds me of the time back in 1992, newly married to my first wife my arduous attempts at understanding the stock market, mutual funds, and credit ratings.
What is ironic about the initial rejection from Blank was that I understood, hell she didn’t know me really. The nigger in me wanted to pitch a bitch and not go after that but, I did go with someone, Prom Date, who at one point adored me. Why is it that people tend not to like or love those who really love them initially? It’s almost like I felt she, Prom Date had to be nuts to be into me. On the other hand chasing someone who barely knew me was nuts as well. Was it about the challenge, the unknown, the chase, the newness, or simply did I need to know if I fit in on another level? Maybe one day these questions may come up and the answers revealed.
Washington, D.C. June 1983, something possessed me to ask Blank to the prom and as the fragile and unsure words “would you go to the prom with me?” fell off my trembling lip. The m from the ending of the word prom seemed to meet the n from the word no in mid air. Years later after becoming reacquainted with my yearbook photo did it occur to me why, other than the fact that she didn’t know me, that she may have said no. I was not the guy whose looks got him into doors or panties. My looks where that of a sort of duck as my lips were grown man sized on a just above adolescent frame and face. Simply, she and many others may not have found me appealing. What is interesting about that though is that as history provides retrospect she and I seemed in the middle; not extremely popular, nor loud, and yet fashionable and searching. She was popular in a humble sort of way and this was her most appealing feature. It occurs to me that my wisdom was present back then as asking Blank had less to do with factors other than the dance, the dress up, but more to do with my assessment of a compatible date. Many people knew me, my looks were not atrocious, fashion was in me, and Blank and I were thin, tall, and brown. Later, it occurred to me that knowing a girl helps but on some fronts yet shyness crippled me when it came to certain girls.
Some girls I found easy to talk to and they seemed to capture most of my attention and while great for social training, they rarely held my interest very long or they fell into the category of proof. Proof girls showed the world my interest in women while proving to other girls that I belonged to someone. Girls and later women I found covet what is not theirs. This is not to say that effort with a few on point and main stream, progressive, beautiful, fashionable, and even kind young women were not launched, yet longevity and timing seem to be off and we ended most often as friends.
Later in life this trivial exercise of night time/ daytime girls became common in my travels and like many of those formative traits proved to be a leech on my character and confidence. Simply, it’s always easy when your meager existence dazzles someone opposed to her accomplishment seemingly mediocre. In my neighborhood of social misfit’s finishing school, working, dressing in the latest fashion, and being in the game were enough to establish a pedigree worthy of many offers of sex, girlfriends, and accolades. It occurred to me later that most of those meager accomplishments meant so much to those around me that the plight of so many capable African Americans is in a sort of social vacuum crying to get out. For those who get out the squandering of time leads to a high stakes game of catch up. Reminds me of the time back in 1992, newly married to my first wife my arduous attempts at understanding the stock market, mutual funds, and credit ratings.
What is ironic about the initial rejection from Blank was that I understood, hell she didn’t know me really. The nigger in me wanted to pitch a bitch and not go after that but, I did go with someone, Prom Date, who at one point adored me. Why is it that people tend not to like or love those who really love them initially? It’s almost like I felt she, Prom Date had to be nuts to be into me. On the other hand chasing someone who barely knew me was nuts as well. Was it about the challenge, the unknown, the chase, the newness, or simply did I need to know if I fit in on another level? Maybe one day these questions may come up and the answers revealed.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Night Before Half Marathon
It's 11:30 p.m. the night before the Park's Half Marathon I had trained for prior to the severe ankle sprain and I can't sleep. No I won't be running with the other 2300 folks at 7:00 a.m., but will be there in spirit. The pain from the sprain coupled with the feeling of despair of not being able to run is making this experience a bit challenging.
After the sprain I ran two days the first week afterward and found that the advice from the urgent care physician (that I would be running again in about 10 days)was bogus and two additional visits one to my primary and another to an aggressive urgent physician (she referred me to orthopaedics) have given a better perspective on how serious my injury is.
Six weeks is the estimation for full running again and that will take time and patience.
Never love anything you can't do without it can make living a challenging while you are away from it. Just love and learn to adapt to losing what you love. I am slowing for now, smelling the roses, watching what those who don't run see and do.
I can not wait to get back to my running but want so much to remember this period of having to slow down and be patient with my body, the health care system, and change.
Woodyzway
After the sprain I ran two days the first week afterward and found that the advice from the urgent care physician (that I would be running again in about 10 days)was bogus and two additional visits one to my primary and another to an aggressive urgent physician (she referred me to orthopaedics) have given a better perspective on how serious my injury is.
Six weeks is the estimation for full running again and that will take time and patience.
Never love anything you can't do without it can make living a challenging while you are away from it. Just love and learn to adapt to losing what you love. I am slowing for now, smelling the roses, watching what those who don't run see and do.
I can not wait to get back to my running but want so much to remember this period of having to slow down and be patient with my body, the health care system, and change.
Woodyzway
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Damper on my training
I went on a night run monday through a grave yard...don't ask it was hot and I knew it would be cool. At any rate I stepped into a hole and severly sprained my ankle. It swole to the size of half an orange and the pain was incredible. This put a damper on my running.
I am someone who throughout life has used running as a diversion from stress, hard times, and boredom. When I run now it is more peaceful than when I was say 10 or 11. Back then I would run at night pretending to be an olympic runner who was always the underdog with a seemingly insurmountable lead to overcome and I would always win in the end in cinematic fashion. This period of solitudinal play would probably release me from the fear and uncertainty that faced our life back then.
Now I run occasionally as the old veteran who no one gives a chance who comes on strong and places or wins.
Imagination is funny and as one song says can make a cloudy day sunny.
I am training for a half marathon coming up in 5 weeks and hope to share my journey with those who take the time to read this blog and hopefully leave them moved in some way....woodyzway...peace
I am someone who throughout life has used running as a diversion from stress, hard times, and boredom. When I run now it is more peaceful than when I was say 10 or 11. Back then I would run at night pretending to be an olympic runner who was always the underdog with a seemingly insurmountable lead to overcome and I would always win in the end in cinematic fashion. This period of solitudinal play would probably release me from the fear and uncertainty that faced our life back then.
Now I run occasionally as the old veteran who no one gives a chance who comes on strong and places or wins.
Imagination is funny and as one song says can make a cloudy day sunny.
I am training for a half marathon coming up in 5 weeks and hope to share my journey with those who take the time to read this blog and hopefully leave them moved in some way....woodyzway...peace
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