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! 

Pyramid Schemes

Last night, I went to a “Tupperware Party”.  Although, by definition it isn’t really a Pyramid Scheme (because Tupperware is a publically traded company and couldn’t be committing fraud), when you are sitting there listening to the Tupperware consultant tell you about how she drives two cars paid for by Tupperware, how much she makes a month, and oh by the way “you can do it too!”, it sure feels like you are listening to the opening lecture of Pyramids 101. OHHHH, and I was the lucky individual at the party that was selected to host my own Tupperware Party....I said “no thanks”, much to the chagrin of the consultant.

There is only one type of pyramid scheme that I believe in, and that is the running for performance pyramid:

Races

Speed workouts

VO2 workouts, VO2 workouts

Threshold work, threshold work, threshold work

Base miles, base miles, base miles, base miles, base miles

Right now I am in between the base miles phase and the threshold work phase.  I am running quite a few miles, logging 95 miles last week and working in some longer threshold pace workouts. This is also the time of year where I feel tired quite a bit because of all the miles and long workouts, but it is an extremely important and necessary phase of the year.  If I don’t “put in the miles” now, I’ll lack the strength and endurance to run to my full potential. Even sprinters do “over-distance”; a term that makes me laugh because a sprinter’s over-distance still seems pretty short to someone training for races between 5K and the marathon.

Why put in the base miles or over distance?  Like I eluded to in the previous paragraph it helps build strength and cardiovascular endurance.  Stronger muscles fatigue less quickly, therefore helping to maintain a given speed for longer – which will in turn help me to win a race or achieve a personal best.  There are other factors of course that play into the equation, like desire and experience, but these parts of the equation are the building blocks. So I’m taking care of the part I can control now and putting in the hard work of building up the running pyramid.

Last week’s race results from the LTF Torchlight 5K: 1^st place – 15:58

Up next: USA 20K championships on Sept. 5^th – the results will be in next week’s post!