Irene and Turning 50

When I started writing this entry, I was going to focus on the fact that on Sept. 1, I will move up into the next age bracket for my races. Yep, I am going to officially be a “senior runner”. Somehow I found a way to hang on to my running through my 40’s and am still consistently training with no end in sight. I am a committed runner who has through trial and error found a way to train correctly and have even been asked to advise other runners on their training. But, instead a little weather pattern has taken over our consciousness here in New England the past few days -- Hurricane Irene.

As I followed the news stories this past week, I realized that much like getting older there was really nothing I could do about Irene. It was coming to visit me no matter what I did. All I could do was prepare for it. I would move all the patio furniture off my deck. I would lash down my gas grill so it wouldn't become a flying projectile. I would get a few more canned goods and some water in case we lose power or the public water system becomes contaminated. Other than that, nothing was going to stop the inevitable. Just like turning 50, Irene would be here and I would just have to deal with whatever it brought me.

With that thought in mind, I have decided that I am going to look on this milestone as my entry into my “golden years” of running. I have now been running since 1985. It has become a huge part of my life. My goal as a “senior runner” is to keep running long term which means I need to emphasize consistency. I am hopeful that this will allow me to remain fit and stay injury free. I still want to have a chance to run a marathon with my son Nathan when he is ready to tackle the distance. Much like Irene I plan to howl and rage against my impending fitness decline as I age. I will not go gentle into that good night.

That is quite a bold statement. I will admit it is strange turning 50. I don’t feel 50. Of course, I am not sure what it is supposed to feel like. I am still able to do everything I have always done. I can still run long distances. I am able to recover from hard efforts without any problem. I know that it is true that age will eventually catch up with me but there is no reason why my performance should fall off dramatically in the future. I actually set my marathon PR when I was 47. I have always read that as a runner I have to accept that there will be a certain deterioration of my fitness level with age. But, I am convinced that my routine is staving off the deterioration or at least slowing it down. Research has shown that by slightly increasing, or at least maintaining, "quality" training I can limit my age-induced loss in aerobic capacity to 4 or 5 percent per decade rather than the "normal" 10 percent. Now that is something to strive for.

I decided that if my turning 50 was not going to stop me from running neither was Irene. I got up at 5:00 am and the winds and rain were very light and calm. I headed out for a 12 mile training run as part of my preparation for the B.A.A. Half Marathon. The streets were deserted and it was eerily calm. I ran on through the rain and light winds. I got back to my house just as the rain started to pick up and the winds started to blow harder. There is more wind and rain headed our way. I am not worried. I will sit in my house and look out the window knowing that this almost 50 year old went out and completed his run for the day and feel satisfied that I can still do something that I love. Bring it on Irene and I want you all to know that I see 50 as just the beginning of my new life as a "senior runner".

Aug. 8 – 6.00 miles (53:35, 8:56 pace)
Aug. 9 – 3.20 miles (25:29, 7:58 pace) – Speed Work
Aug. 11 – 6.20 miles (49:09, 7:56 pace) – Tempo Run
Aug. 12 – 6.10 miles (53:08, 8:43 pace)
Aug. 13 – 7.10 miles (1:02:27, 8:48 pace)
Aug. 14 – 10.20 miles (1:31:19, 8:57 pace)
Aug. 15 – 6.20 miles (57:21, 9:15 pace)
Aug. 16 – 3.20 miles (25:28, 7:58 pace) – Speed Work
Aug. 18 – 6.20 miles (49:34, 8:01 pace) – Tempo Run
Aug. 19 – 6.20 miles (56:43, 9:09 pace)
Aug. 20 –8.20 miles (1:13:28 8:58 pace)
Aug. 21 –8.10 miles (1:11:52, 8:52 pace)

Total Miles: 76.9 miles
2011 YTD Miles: 1,008.9 miles

The Ebb and Flow of Motivation

It has been a month since I ran in the 2011 Mass Dash Relay. While it was a really great experience, it really took its mental toll. I have struggled the past few weeks trying to get back into my running mindset. I do not crave my runs like I did prior to competing in that race. Regardless of the malaise I have been feeling, I signed up to run the B.A.A. Half Marathon again in October and really need to get myself into peak form so that I can improve my performance on that course. If I don't it could be a very tough day on the road.

This past week, I really focused on sticking to my training regimen. I found comfort in getting up and doing whatever was on my training plan for the day. But each run was a struggle. I didn't feel bad on my runs at all. In fact, I was running pretty well. It was just that there seemed to be this little devil on my shoulder telling me to just quit. Stop running. I kept asking myself why was I feeling like I wanted to pack it in during the middle of a tough workout? Sadly, I don't know where this feeling is coming from.

As I thought about it, I realized that it is not uncommon for a runner like me to have difficulty staying motivated. I am just feeling a bit of burnout. I realized that I had fallen into a rut and my burnout is coming from stale training habits and a simple mental let down after competing in a race I really wasn't properly prepared to run. However, running is a very important part of my life and who I am as a person. So, I am going to chose to see this symptom of burnout as a blessing in disguise. I am going to refocus my training and work harder to be adequately prepared for the B.A.A. Half Marathon.

If I work hard and do well in the B.A.A. Half Marathon, it will be a good indicator of the running shape I am in before the start of my training for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team in 2012. I have realized that my motivation to train is not a constant feeling that is always there 100% of the time. It ebbs and flows depending on whatever else is happening in my life. The key thing I need to remember is that even when I am not feeling particularly motivated to get out there that running is part of who I am and how important it is to me. I need to just lace up my shoes, do my run and wait for that motivation to come back. I am going to remind myself that my goals as a runner are part of a long journey and the malaise I have been feeling is just momentary blip on the screen that will soon dissipate.

I know that every runner has struggled with staying motivated and reaching their goals. Finding the motivation to stick with my training isn't necessarily easy, but I know I can do it. Writing this blog and telling the world that I am running the B.A.A. Half Marathon will help me stay motivated as you will be wondering how I did in the race. I can also reenergize my passion by sticking to my training schedule, and reminding myself of how much I really love to run. That's really what it's really all about. I love to run and I do it because it is fun. Therefore, I am going to make my new running mantra - No fun, no run!

Jul. 24 – 6.20 miles (55:02, 8:53 pace)
Jul. 25 – 6.20 miles (57:01, 9:12 pace)
Jul. 26 – 3.50 miles (30:17, 8:39 pace) – Speed Work
Jul. 28 – 5.20 miles (41:45, 8:02 pace) – Tempo Run
Jul. 30 – 9.10 miles (1:21:15, 8:56 pace)
Jul. 31 – 9.00 miles (1:19:07, 8:48 pace)
Aug. 1 – 6.10 miles (55:12, 9:02 pace)
Aug. 2 – 3.20 miles (25:11, 7:52 pace) – Speed Work
Aug. 4 – 6.20 miles (49:49, 8:02 pace) – Tempo Run
Aug. 5 – 7.10 miles (1:04:06, 9:02 pace)
Aug. 1 –7.10 miles (1:04:32, 9:05 pace)

Total Miles: 68.9 miles
2011 YTD Miles: 932.0 miles