Short Stack 5K. Sounds like a $2.99 breakfast special at IHOP. It's not. Though it sounds good as long as it comes with a side of bacon so crispy the 'fat' looks like meat. That's my secret for eating bacon - also the beauty of it. Cook it long enough and the fat chars to the point it actually looks like meat. Mentally it's now good for me - fat free bacon. If I think about it long enough maybe I can find the same happy place with Double Stuff Oreos.
The 5K wasn't really called the short stack. I could use diminutive. Maybe even petite. Yes, the Petite 5K. No...it wasn't a race for er, how do we phrase it today....little people. It was a 5K that was more like a 4K. 5K = 3.1 miles. This one was 2.72. Really? Yup. Runners are ready for that time when you know you have about a quarter mile left to go and you get ready to push every fiber in your body for a strong finish. But in this case, I round a corner and there was the finish line. Right there. The clock read 19:50:17. For a brief moment I didn't care that it was short. A sub 20 5K would be worth blogging about. Maybe even a tattoo. Then I check my trusty Garmin and what I already know is proven beyond a doubt. It read 2.72....
It also gave up another number. A beautiful number. 7:24. My pace. I could celebrate after all. Third fastest pace ever. It felt great - here I was 51 years old and still running hard. In many ways, better than ever. *Time to thank some people. Albert - running form. I was leaning! Not perfect but it made a difference - and I don't think I heal struck even one time! Sharon - well, you know. Tri-team - you have me swimming and biking which has improved my overall fitness. It's amazing how much cardio a guy can get gasping for breath in the pool.
I had a great 7:01 first mile. At the end of it my right shoelace came undone. Crap. One lace was hitting my opposite leg but I didn't want to stop. I was thinking about the shoelaces that won't come undone that Jerry talked about during his clinic. I should have bought them I thought. Then the other lace started hitting me too. Pisser. Now I know I have to stop and tie them before I trip over myself. I pull over, bend down and start the process. You know those movies where the person is being chased and they jump in the car and it takes them forever to get the key in the ignition? That was me. Ten thumbs. As runners flew by I got more and more frustrated. Finally got it down and I'm sure it didn't take as much time as it seemed to me - though I started the race with stubble and now had a full beard.
I managed to catch one of the three that passed me (yes, I counted them). The other two probably would have passed me anyway since they continued to pull away. For the rest of the race I was in a pocket. Couldn't pass anyone and no one passed me. I knew I was moving fast because this was an out and back course and I was well on my way back and runners were still not at the half way point.
After finishing the race I stuck around for the results - I'm always curious to how I place in my age division. Today was a good day. I won my age division. Beat a bunch of 40, 30, and 20 somethings in the process. Truth be told, a 14 year old girl beat me so I best not get all cocky. Teenagers amaze me. After the race they look like they could run another one. Me, it's all I can do to find half a banana and a water.
It was time to go. Albert and Sharon weren't able to join me since they were running with the tri team and the race experience isn't the same when you can't share it. I know, poor Michael. No sooner did I get in the car (and with ease slid my key into the ignition on the first try) that I had a message about a trip to Speedy Reedy. I'm all in. Turns out it was in Fremont and in Fremont was the solstice parade. We didn't know that until we rounded the corner and came face to face with naked people riding bikes. Naked. I mean I saw...well, that's another story...until then give it all you got, leave nothing for tomorrow, and Run...don't jog.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Just "Tri" it!
This is a bit of a rare blog for me. Normally I write about a recent race to share my thoughts and experiences - you may find sprinkles of humor, my often odd perspectives, and if you read along long enough, truths that provide some insight to who I am. That may or may not be the person you see everyday.
You don't have to read many blogs to know that my ace in the hole, my rabbits foot, the light that has guided my running journey is Sharon. It goes well beyond running. I eat better, my overall physical health is better, and on a good day in the right light and being careful to not look directly at them, I have abs. Whenever I have followed her training plan I have been successful. I love her at the finish line though admit to cursing her name more than once during a training session. You can't go any further or harder but somehow you do. You think you will puke but don't (that warm gurgle in your throat does not count). I find it difficult to express my level of appreciation - "Thank you Sharon" seems inadequate. In March Sharon began work on a triathlon program for the YMCA and asked if I would help with the running. Without hesitation I was all in. All in - don't doubt it, count on it, that's me. Soon I became involved as a participant in the swimming and biking.
Running. That's my deal. I am not the best but find that I can hold my own against my age division. Some days I can even kick some butt. Note that as you get older the "age division" becomes your best friend. Screw the 20 year old who finishes the race, grabs a bite, takes a nap, and comes back to the finish line to see you come across. Oh you beautiful age divisions - let's continue to grow that relationship, I think I'm in love. Running with the team has been very rewarding. Partly because I am now spewing wisdom taught to me not long ago - teaching is fun and it serves as a great reminder that we are all so very different. Also because I enjoy running - there is a freedom to it. Mostly however because of the great people I am running with. They are amazing and inspiring. Some are fast, others are getting there. Every week yields another personal success and victories are everywhere. They are fighters and I am lucky to know them.
Biking. I thought this would be easy. Wrong. My bike apparently is too big for me (maybe I need one of those little circus bikes the clowns ride), the chain falls off at least once a ride, and the gears often decide to change on their own. Then there is the fact that while it seems easy, I ride like crap. I'm a middle of the pack, quad burning, gear grinding, never wears the proper clothing to be warm, why does my ass hurt so much, want to be biker. My bike seat. I don't even know what to say. Let's just say that by the end of the ride my ass and the bike seat have become so intimate that one of them should have a cigarette.
Swimming. Where do I start? I don't like water and water does not like me. My struggle is really deeper than that. The moment I walk into the pool my world changes. I would rather be anywhere than in the pool at that moment. I suck - both mentality and physically. I am trying and today marked my 5th attempt (is it sad that I count them?). It's clear that I am the worse one in the pool - which by the way is rough. It's important to say that while I struggle, the team is nothing but great. They support me and never make me feel like I live in Loserville USA, Population 1 sinker. Thank you guys for that - it helps more than you know. I have received one on one coaching the past two weeks and today I felt like I took a step forward. Though I was on the "kiddie" side, I made it end to end without stopping to choke. A first for me. Go Michael go Michael. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself - it was only one day. But soon I may be putting together the coaching from Brook and Lisa and sliding across the pool instead of looking like I fell in quicksand. Time will tell. At the very least, our lifeguard Josh won't have to keep his eyes on me all the time.
While I may never do a triathlon the journey I am on today is more rewarding everyday. I am getting to know the team better and with each interaction I find myself being drawn in to each of them more and more. They are fantastic people - I am honored to know them. Sharon has done an incredible job organizing, directing, and teaching. She is the heart of the program and puts more into it than we'll probably ever know. Thank you Sharon - again, seems inadequate. Maybe the best way to say it is to simply say that whatever you need, I'm all in. Swimming excluded of course....
You don't have to read many blogs to know that my ace in the hole, my rabbits foot, the light that has guided my running journey is Sharon. It goes well beyond running. I eat better, my overall physical health is better, and on a good day in the right light and being careful to not look directly at them, I have abs. Whenever I have followed her training plan I have been successful. I love her at the finish line though admit to cursing her name more than once during a training session. You can't go any further or harder but somehow you do. You think you will puke but don't (that warm gurgle in your throat does not count). I find it difficult to express my level of appreciation - "Thank you Sharon" seems inadequate. In March Sharon began work on a triathlon program for the YMCA and asked if I would help with the running. Without hesitation I was all in. All in - don't doubt it, count on it, that's me. Soon I became involved as a participant in the swimming and biking.
Running. That's my deal. I am not the best but find that I can hold my own against my age division. Some days I can even kick some butt. Note that as you get older the "age division" becomes your best friend. Screw the 20 year old who finishes the race, grabs a bite, takes a nap, and comes back to the finish line to see you come across. Oh you beautiful age divisions - let's continue to grow that relationship, I think I'm in love. Running with the team has been very rewarding. Partly because I am now spewing wisdom taught to me not long ago - teaching is fun and it serves as a great reminder that we are all so very different. Also because I enjoy running - there is a freedom to it. Mostly however because of the great people I am running with. They are amazing and inspiring. Some are fast, others are getting there. Every week yields another personal success and victories are everywhere. They are fighters and I am lucky to know them.
Biking. I thought this would be easy. Wrong. My bike apparently is too big for me (maybe I need one of those little circus bikes the clowns ride), the chain falls off at least once a ride, and the gears often decide to change on their own. Then there is the fact that while it seems easy, I ride like crap. I'm a middle of the pack, quad burning, gear grinding, never wears the proper clothing to be warm, why does my ass hurt so much, want to be biker. My bike seat. I don't even know what to say. Let's just say that by the end of the ride my ass and the bike seat have become so intimate that one of them should have a cigarette.
Swimming. Where do I start? I don't like water and water does not like me. My struggle is really deeper than that. The moment I walk into the pool my world changes. I would rather be anywhere than in the pool at that moment. I suck - both mentality and physically. I am trying and today marked my 5th attempt (is it sad that I count them?). It's clear that I am the worse one in the pool - which by the way is rough. It's important to say that while I struggle, the team is nothing but great. They support me and never make me feel like I live in Loserville USA, Population 1 sinker. Thank you guys for that - it helps more than you know. I have received one on one coaching the past two weeks and today I felt like I took a step forward. Though I was on the "kiddie" side, I made it end to end without stopping to choke. A first for me. Go Michael go Michael. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself - it was only one day. But soon I may be putting together the coaching from Brook and Lisa and sliding across the pool instead of looking like I fell in quicksand. Time will tell. At the very least, our lifeguard Josh won't have to keep his eyes on me all the time.
While I may never do a triathlon the journey I am on today is more rewarding everyday. I am getting to know the team better and with each interaction I find myself being drawn in to each of them more and more. They are fantastic people - I am honored to know them. Sharon has done an incredible job organizing, directing, and teaching. She is the heart of the program and puts more into it than we'll probably ever know. Thank you Sharon - again, seems inadequate. Maybe the best way to say it is to simply say that whatever you need, I'm all in. Swimming excluded of course....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
