Running These Days

I really thought the plantar thing was going to be a part of me for the rest of my life. While trying for my first marathon in 2008, I developed this problem, though not aware what it was initially. I thought if I just ran through some of foot pain, it would subside eventually. Training to go 26.2 is going to invoke some aches along the way.

When I started running in 2005 I made a decision to fight through pain and soreness and endure the elements knowing it would develop a mental stamina needed if I really wanted to break through self-imposed limitations. Little did I know that the plantar fasciitis problem was suppose to be an exception. Soon after the Akron marathon I was radically slowed and hobbled by that foot pain. It would not quit and I finally caved in to a friends suggestion to seek out medical treatment & therapy.

The next year was spent trying foot treatments, orthodics, therapies and night splints. There was intermittent running that year but not very much. In fact from the September 2008 marathon until March 2010 I was only able to squeeze out 117 miles in that 17 month span!

In the last 2 plus months things seem to be turning around finally. My runs have been almost pain-free and I am have switched from fighting to get going towards looking forward and enjoying it once again. I am far below my monthly running averages from my peak training but am happy to experience that good runner's feeling once again! In the last two weeks I enjoyed 2 runs of longer distance 6 miles and 7 miles! The legs & lungs are coming back and a little speed is returning too as I lose some weight.

I think I am well on my way once again to a normal running life. If you call a running life normal!

Andy & I Ran a 5K Together

Last Saturday I ran my first race since last September's marathon. Never mind that I was wheezing up hills and that packs of runners breezed by me as I felt like I was running in sand up to my knees. Or that I felt like a fish out of water running trails instead of roads. Forget the fact that it took so much out of me to run a 10 minute pace for 3.1 miles.

The reason it was truly significant is that I was able to share the experience with my son Andy who is heading to the Army in 2 weeks. We had dreamed about running a marathon this fall but time and injuries to my foot made that impossible. Knowing we were running out of time, we registered for the Camp Mowana Run Through the Woods 5k.

When the horn sounded Andy darted to the front of the pack. I had a great view of him reaching the top of the hill as I was climbing the first 3/10ths of a mile. In the end he received a 3rd place medal in his division and finished 7 minutes ahead of me! I was proud of the race he ran and was thrilled that he received some hardware in this shared moment.

I will have plenty of opportunities to run better but on that day my position and time took a back seat to a great dad/son event. I am proud of him and how far he has come and how far he will go in the next chapter of his life.

Too Many Byes

I'm saying good bye too often this year. This time I write as I reflect the passing of Duane Bates. He was my step father during those wonderful teen years of my life. Affectionately known as "Pa" not only to family, but to the whole neighborhood. If you ever saw Pa from the Waltons, then you would know a little of the nature of this man. Duane was as earthy as they come. He modeled a strong work ethic and was a lineman for the New York State Electric & Gas. He enjoyed a simple country life, loved John Wayne and enjoyed fishing. He was quite good with a harmonica too.

A few memories I recall with Pa include riding to Canada in the back of his old Chevy pick up to spend a week on the lake. It was the same truck that I would learn to drive a standard with shift on the column. This was also the same truck I got stuck during a late winter snow.

We lived on a farm with a few animals. I remember how amazed I was when he'd yell "Ka-boss!!" which was followed by cattle heading to the feeding troughs. He loved dogs, especially a dog named Poochie. He would talk to it like a baby as it wagged it's tail in delight at the lavished attention. As I mention this I am realizing that I picked up this mannerism from Duane.

He had a hilarious sense of humor. One joke in particular was quite effective on me. With absolute solemness he told me how he had this puppy he loved that was out in the garage while he was repairing a gas tank on his truck. He had drained the tank and had left the pan by the truck when the little cuss jumped in it and then started to run in circles until it just slowed and quite. His voice broke off as he told how awful it was. I was caught up in the story and asked what happened to the dog. He looked tearful and then said, "He ran out of gas!" which was followed by him slapping his knee and roaring in laughter.

While I definitely had a good relationship with my dad through my teen years, the miles between us certainly made it hard to seek his daily guidance in my life. For this I was grateful to have Duane as my step dad during this period in my life. I'm glad I got that Kelly got to meet him when we got engaged. I'm thankful for the family Bible he gave us on our wedding and for the visit we had shortly after we got married.

When I went off to college Pa no longer was my step dad as things changed during my freshman year. Yet I look back at that span from 1974-1980 and was grateful for the man who worked hard to feed us and keep us warm through the long winter nights in upstate New York. I read his obituary which reported that he died at 80 years old. It was hard to imagine because I was thinking of him as he was last time I saw him and maybe that's the best way to keep him in my mind as a post the tribute for yet another person whose life left an impact on mine. I hope this will be the last one I need to post in 2009.

Life Without Running

It has been a very long while since I posted a running thought for good reason. My running has come to a grinding halt! I have made several attempts at it but each time I pay dearly thanks to a foot injury that refuses to leave. I really miss it and the doctor assures me I will be able to return to this love.
Thankfully I have a new interest I have settled on as a substitute, cycling. I have been at it for 4 weeks now. This week I biked on an 18 mile trail in Mansfield. The weather was perfect and by the end of the day I was content to have broken the 50 mile mark for the day. It seems I have to become obsessive with distance on a bike just as I have with running.
The very same trail I ran last summer is now being covered on wheels. I wish I could have run as quickly as I biked.

Pacific Run

This weekend I will be headed to Sand Diego for my step dad's memorial service. While I'm out there I want to see the Pacific Ocean. It has taken me 47 years to get there. I plan to run on the coastline. It would be cool to do this when the sun is going down! We'll see!

I Felt The Road Moves Under My Feet

I know that the title to this post is very much like an old Carly Simon song but let me just explain what I mean. I did not feel the earth quake or the early rumbles of a soon to erupt volcano. What happened under my feet was not literal but more mental. This was the 4th straight day of running but it was the first time that I had that old sensation that the road was moving toward me instead of away from me. It is a lot harder when it seems the road keeps sliding away from you and not toward you. It happened on the final half mile of today's run and it motivated me to pick up the pace and end strong. I like to end strong! Trying to recover from this injury meant that for a while I have just focused on finishing my run the best I could. It's amazing how the mental part starts to work in your favor once you're willing to push the physical part a little more.

3 Straight Days of Running

For the first time since before I trained for the Akron marathon in September I was able to string 3 consecutive days of running. I only averaged 3 miles per run but still it was another sign that I'm on the comeback trail. It was warm (60s) overcast and windy (as usual).

The difference I noticed was that I did not feel the burn in the lungs that come out of no running routine. While the legs didn't feel as fresh, I'm glad I went out this afternoon. I'm feeling a little bit of that runner's high once again. I have a very long way to go before I'm fully back but today was another little win that pushes me back to where I want and need to be!