Running Update

When I read other people's blogs, I'm always frustrated (that's a strong word :) when they don't keep their blogs up-to-date...so it is with much guilt that I notice I haven't added anything here for the last couple weeks.

My workout patterns this summer have been really bad. Vacation didn't help. The main thing I've learned about my running though is that it's not a physical battle - it's mental. 2 Saturdays ago, I ran 14+ miles in horrible conditions (hot, high humidity) by doing the run/walk/run method (ran 3 min / walked 1 min / ran 3 min, etc.) Last Thursday, I decided that I would run after I got home from work - something I never do. I set out to run at least 4 miles. Within about 1 minute, I was considering cutting the run down to 1/2 mile :) I'm not used to running at that time of day and in that heat. My legs felt like lead weights and I had a side stitch almost immediately. But, I kept telling myself that I had to go at least 3 miles and mentally pushing myself forward. I ended up making the 4 miles - but it was a battle the entire way.

Saturday, I had the day off so I decided to try and do 20. That's a bigger mileage jump than is suggested, but the weather was beautiful (low humidity). I ran from the Iwo Jima to the C&O Canal Towpath mile marker 10 and back. I was able to do 16 miles straight running, and then ran walked the last 4 back. Wow. For me, it's not the mileage, it's the time. It was over 3.5 hours of me, myself & I...listening to music, people watching, telling myself I was crazy, telling myself that I can make it one more mile, telling myself that I was crazy.

So, to finish the Marine Corp., I only need to cover 6 more miles than I did on Saturday, and who can't do that? LOL. I just bought some ClifShot with caffeine, so the next time I set out on one of these treks, I won't need to worry about being hungry and wanting coffee.

For the next couple weekends, I'm back to running the roads of Stafford. Unfortunately, that means hills and traffic fumes. I'm looking forward to my next 20ish miler being on the Mt. Vernon Trail. I believe it's paved, which is an advantage over the C&O.

On other notes, China times continue to be at a tortoise's pace. We look forward to bringing Julia home in God's timing...not ours. In the meantime, we have the dogs to baby. They bring experiences we could never have anticipated (like inducing vomiting after Stella ate a large quantity of dark chocolate m&m's...)

By the way, after living here for 15+ years, Saturday was my first time seeing the Iwo Jima. It's beautiful & impressive. Amazing that we go to the other side of the world to site see, yet there is so much in our own backyard that we've haven't seen.