Bittersweet

This week didn’t exactly go how I imagined it would.

The week started off on a high, having returned home from the CVS/Pharmacy Downtown 5K/ USA 5K championships where I placed 5^th by a nose (the wrong side of the nose)! I placed 5^th by .02 seconds….going up the final hill – a ¼ mile sprint uphill to the finish. 4^th place was two steps in front of me and 3^rd was 15m ahead. Both women looked like they were just hanging on for the finish. I saw my opening, I looked up at 3^rd place and said “I think I can do it” and started gunning for the finish line. I passed Sara Hall in 4^th place and was still running as hard as I could closing on 3^rd, but then out of the corner of my eye I saw that Sara hadn’t given up yet. We were both sprinting with every ounce of energy we had to get to the finish line. I was so focused on the finish I felt like I couldn’t even see; all the energy was going to my legs, willing them to carry me ever faster. In the end Sara was able to just out-lean me at the line and Emily Brown in 3^rd place was able to stay 2 seconds out of reach. My final time: 15:58 and new road 5K PR. I walked away with my head held high because I knew I gave it everything I had and was happy to run as quickly as I did considering that I am training for a marathon, not the 5K. I think this race was a reflection of how strong I am getting with my training. Hopefully that strength will pay off next weekend in the Medtronic TC 10 mile/ USA 10 mile Championships, which are hosted by Twin Cities in Motion right here in my own back yard!

USA 5 km Championships - Official Website - Videos - Women's Live Race Replay - USA 5 km Championships 2011

However, once hump day rolled around, what had started out as a great week quickly hit rock bottom. Early Wednesday morning I got an email from Dennis saying that one of the men on the Augsburg Cross Country team had been killed in a hit and run late on Tuesday night. Jason Stevens was a freshman on our team and double majoring in Physics and Calculus. The team was crushed by sadness and anger. “How can someone just drive away?” “Why did this happen? The loss of a great friend and strong competitor brought the Auggies to their emotional knees. Yet, as I watched the team and tried to be a strong shoulder to cry on, what I witnessed was amazing. This huge loss brought this team even closer together than they were previously; they each learned that their teammates were people that they could rely on even in the toughest of situations. They came back two days later and had some of the best workouts of their lives.  My wish is that they can continue to honor the memory of Jason by competing with as much heart and guts as Jason did. Rest in peace Jason, and know that you were loved by many.

North Vs. South

As fall starts to settle in (I use the word “settle” loosely as it was in the 30’s this morning) some thoughts keep nagging at me about some important winter training decisions I need to make.  The big question:  Stay here in Minneapolis where temperatures can dip to a brutal -40 degrees Fahrenheit or make like Tom and Cruise on south for the winter?

With the Olympic Team Trials Marathon being in Houston, the answer almost looks obvious – go south. But it isn’t that easy. 

The Pros to staying in Minneapolis:

- My loving husband and biggest supporter is here.

-I get to stay in my routine, doing the things that I know work for me. Sleep in my own bed.  

-I have my coach close at hand, where he can watch my workouts and make assessments.

-I have access to all the facilities that I could possibly need with all the support I get from Team USA Minnesota and Life Time Fitness – including indoor training facilities, massage, and so on.

The Cons to staying in Minneapolis:

-The cost of the trip. 

-Did I mention yet how cold it gets in Minneapolis, or how much snow falls during an average winter? I have trained through the winter here in Minneapolis for the past three years without being any worse for the wear. So why am I even questioning whether I should stay in Minneapolis or not? Well, the reason is because in January the average daytime temperature in Houston, TX is 63 degrees while in Minneapolis it is 22 degrees.  Those 40 degrees make a big difference because my body would have to acclimate for the trip to Houston in January for the marathon trials. Although normally 63 degrees isn’t that warm, when my body is used to being exposed to 20 degree temps and then is suddenly put into much warmer temperatures, running at peak performance is asking a lot.  

So this is where my quandary begins: to stay or to go? At first I thought that the answer was obvious, that I should go south.  However, after listening to an interview by Tera Moody after she completed the 2011 World Marathon in Daegu, South Korea, (she was the first American to cross the line, finishing in 18^th place overall) I am not so sure. She mentions in her interview with LetsRun.com that one of the reasons she was able to cope with the very warm and humid conditions in Daegue was due to the fact that she spent a lot of time training on the treadmill, where room temp is often in the 70’s and there is no wind to help keep you cool.

After listening to her interview, I only have one strong aversion to staying….and that is that I really hate running on treadmills. I like having the road under my feet and the scenery passing by. However, at the same time I can’t ignore all of the pros that would come with staying put.

For now I guess I will continue to soul search….at least while fall is still settling in and the abundant trees of Minnesota begin to turn their beautiful red and gold colors.

Any thoughts? 

Color Blind

How something as simple as a color can be such a strong metaphor is beyond me, but nonetheless you can find colorful metaphors used in literature everywhere. Examples can be found almost every time you crack open another spine; The Color Purple by Alice Walker and one of my favorite books and authors The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, just to name a few. But why am I talking about colors and metaphors? This is a blog about running right! Well, the answer, you will soon see is because last night I came upon the most beautiful running metaphor ever…DRUM ROLL PLEASE:

Running the Edge 

“Many people openly express their disbelief that someone would deliberately choose to run. As a runner, you have probably heard it all: ‘I only run when I am being chased.’ ‘How can you just run?’ 'I hate running!’ ‘I don’t understand how someone can run for fun.’”  Well now I have my answer, complete with a colorful metaphor. “’ Pretend I am a person who can only see the world in black-and-white. Now imagine you need to explain to me what the color blue looks like. How would you do it?’

Valerie thought for a moment and then began with a confident ‘Blue is like…’ She Paused. Her eyes rolled up as she searched the ceiling and walls of the office for a single word that could help me understand blue. I stopped her before she tried to speak again.

‘That is exactly what it is like trying to explain running to a non-runner. Being a runner is like being able to see the color blue. When two people share these common experiences, they do not need to talk about them or try to describe them in words. But without common experience, it is difficult for me, or any other runner, to help you understand why we are so passionate about this sport. If you really want answers, you need to become a runner and develop color vision.’”

This excerpt is from the book just released called Running the Edge by Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano.  I got my copy in the mail last week, signed by the authors and everything…if you don’t have a copy yet I highly suggest that you pick one up. The small section I have included here is only the tip of the iceberg. Anyhow, when I read this metaphor for running, big yellow light bulbs went off all around my head because even though unfortunately it is not my own original idea, it is a simple and profound way to explain to those people that I encounter almost every day why they can’t understand why I love to run.

Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K/USA 20K Championships – Sept. 5^th

My love of running has taken my many amazing places in my life, and I hope that it will take me to a lot more. This past weekend it took me to the small city of New Haven, CT (also the home of Yale University) where I competed in the USA 20K Championships where I placed 7^th in a time of 1:10:28.  I was in 4^th place for a long time, chasing down 3^rd, but a stiff early pace and the need to get in some more long workouts and runs left me running on fumes that last few miles. I am happy with the race, as it is a good measure of my current level of fitness…but now it is back to the roads and more training. I am going to get stronger and more fit as the fall progresses and make my way towards the USA Marathon Trials in January.

Next up of the race calendar: CVS Caremark Downtown 5K/USA 5K Championships on Sept. 18^th

Wish me luck!