Un/Planned

Today started off at 06:53 (military time), with a 4.27 mile run for 30:49 (minutes:seconds), at an average pace of 7:13 (min/mi). Usually, I plan out my routes to see where I'm going and how far the distance is. This morning I awoke at 06:20, and stayed in bed checking email. By 06:40 I was making small adjustments to a music playlist then jumped out of bed and took off in a general direction. I didn't pay much attention to my pace this morning, and just enjoyed the run. As a result, I ended up discovering an alternate route to work that is more scenic.

Currently, I hold my phone in one hand, wrapped in a handkerchief so as to not get it sweaty, and my keys in the other hand, with one hand through the key ring for a better grip. I really don't like things bouncing around or jingling while I'm running. It might be a bit obsessive compulsive, but it disturbs me very much. I don't want to purchase an armband, because my arms are pretty small, and it feels a bit odd. So, I'm looking at purchasing a waist belt. Top contenders are the Nathan Shadow Pak, Nathan 5K, and SPI Belt. The Nathan brands are simply appealing because they are already branded with my name. I haven't made a final decision, but because of the brand name (vs brand name) I will probably get them, possibly both to see how they work, and they can always double for traveling abroad carrying passports and what not.

4.7 Miles

Today I ran 4.7 miles in 36 minutes. It averages to 7:40 miles, not as fast as the previous pace. This was timed more accurately, using the RunKeeper App on the iPhone.  I felt pressure to run faster than my previous time, but I didn't feel any faster. I used Nike+ a while back when it first came out, but stopped because of the effect measuring my times had on draining the fun out of running. I still have the shoes, they are in good shape, so I could try using it again as as an alternate to RunKeeper. It really doesn't matter which device I use, only that I learn to balance measuring performance with enjoying myself.

I didn't do all these calculations while running. I did spend most of my time wanting to look down at my pace though. Resisting because I knew that it would only slow me down and interrupt my flow. My mind was distracted during this run.

Having these minutes/mile times got me curious, what is a 3:10:00 (three hour ten minute) marathon pace? It is averaging 7:18 a mile, which doesn't leave much space for error. This doesn't seem like to tough of a pace to achieve in 3 months if I'm causally doing 7:40s right now. I shall see what I say about that 2 months from now. I'm optimistic that my optimism will remain, a small voice of practicality is in the back of my mind saying lets do some research to see what is possible.

5/40

Today I ran 5 miles in about 40 minutes (including the time waiting at stop lights). At about 4 to 6 minutes of waiting at stop lights in total, I estimate that when I was running, I averaged 7:00 minute miles. I'm looking into what kind of equipment I might purchase to more accurately assess my pace.

I started off the run thinking about my grocery list (eggs, butter, buttermilk, yogurt, oatmeal). About a mile into the run, I started going around the Charles River, joining many other runners and cyclists. There were a few moments when I was trying to catch up to people running in front of me as a mini-challenge. On one particularly beautiful straight away I was lucky enough to have no one in front of me. I just looked forward, closed my eyes, and had the wind in my face.

Somewhere in the middle of the run I started thinking about the trailer to the film I'm Still Here, about Joaquin Phoenix, directed by Casey Afflec. The trailer is clips of Joaquin with what sounds like a voice-over by Edward James Almos. I thought about what Edward was saying for a while during the run. I first thought about it, because I enjoy the sound of his voice, old and worn, and aged well like leather or wine. The quote goes something like this:

That's you, drops of water. And you're on top of the mountain, a success. But one day, you start sliding down the mountain, and you think, "wait a minute, I'm a mountain top water drop. I don't belong in this valley, this river, this little dark ocean, with all these drops of water." Then one day it gets hot, and you slowly evaporate into air. Way up, higher than any mountain top, all the way to the heavens. Then you understand that it was at your lowest that you were closest to god. Life's a journey that goes round and round, and the end is closest to the beginning. So if its change you need, relish the journey.

Sometimes it is very hard for me to start running. I know that once I start though, I'll enjoy myself. I can't think of one time that I've gone out running when I haven't. Sometimes I'll complain about how cold or hot it is, but really, I savor all of it.

Introduction

I am going to turn 29 next year, on the 29th of March. Seeing as my age and the date of my birthday aligned in twenty-eleven, I imagined that it called for something special. So, I’m going to run the numeric date, each day during the month of March until the 29th. For example, I will run 1 mile on the 1st, 2 miles on the 2nd… 15 on the 15th… and finally 29 miles on the 29th. This isn't completely new, I’ve been running my birthday since I was 20. This is just pushing myself a little further.

I’ve run about 8 official marathons in my life, 11 including my birthday’s since I was twenty-six.  My personal best is 3:50 in 2008. I have never trained for a marathon to my satisfaction. I have done a few without doing any running in the months leading up to it, including the personal best in 2008, though I was doing a lot of cycling at the time. This is something that is going to have to change if I am going to accomplish the task I have laid out before myself. So, in addition to the birthday run, I plan on qualifying for the Boston Marathon by December of twenty-ten. I’ve started planning a work-out routine of running and cross training, that still needs to be finalized.

This blog is for me to keep track of the efforts I make, and thoughts I have in preparation for the coming goals and milestones.