I am waiting for the clock to hit 8pm so I can drive home and hammer out a quick run before I collapse into bed. Insights--if there are any--will follow tomorrow.
Until then...
Ryan
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Days 4 and 5
Day 4: Just over a mile with Katie indoors at the Kerr YMCA.
Day 5: Just over a mile outside as the sun came up.
Katie's starting a streak of her own and it's been fun to run alongside her and coach her though most of the time she doesn't want to hear my thoughts or encouraging words. If looks could kill I would have been dead on day 4. I'm reminded of my parents saying "You may hate me now but someday you'll thank me."
Which brings me to my thought for the day: When and why does running take on this negative side? As kids we love running and adults have to tell us over and over again to walk--at the mall, in the hallways at school, through the aisles at the grocery store-- and we have such trouble slowing down. At some point between third and twelfth grade we lose the mental freedom to take off running for no reason. We stop racing our friends from one point to another just because. Running becomes a chore, one of many tortuous things to be done in order to stay fit and healthy.
I think it all starts with the timed mile run in Phys. Ed. The "test" separates each class into losers and winners without ever naming them as such. But the kids know that those who finish first are somehow inherently better than those that finish last. Running becomes just another way in which we are different and the stripping of joy begins.
I wasn't the fastest runner in elementary school but I wasn't the slowest either. I was squarely in the middle and I was, for the most part, comfortable in my spot. So comfortable in fact, that I stayed there through middle school, high school and most of college before I decided I was capable of more. If the stigma of the "mile run" didn't exist, would I have enjoyed that many more years of running untethered to emotional and mental baggage? Probably not because myriad other factors--diet, activity level, interests--contribute just as much. But I still have negative feelings about running a mile. A 5k? No problem! Two miles? No problem! But a mile? That still causes me to feel sick to my stomach, like I'm about to speak in front of 1,000 people for the first time. I'd love to hear if anyone else has the same feeling.
At this point I must confess, I've not read Born to Run, and I know it's essential reading regarding the issues about which I'm ranting. Thankfully I've had enough friends converted by the book to understand the basics: We lost the joy of running and the freedom of moving through our environments unencumbered and now it's time to get back to our roots. I'm adding it to my list. Hopefully I'll be able to borrow a copy soon.
Which brings me to my second thought for the day: Why do we need a book to tell us what we lost?
For me this journey allows me to reconnect to the creek jumping, trouble getting, barefoot-in-the-summer kid I was until I got distracted.
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
Day 5: Just over a mile outside as the sun came up.
Katie's starting a streak of her own and it's been fun to run alongside her and coach her though most of the time she doesn't want to hear my thoughts or encouraging words. If looks could kill I would have been dead on day 4. I'm reminded of my parents saying "You may hate me now but someday you'll thank me."
Which brings me to my thought for the day: When and why does running take on this negative side? As kids we love running and adults have to tell us over and over again to walk--at the mall, in the hallways at school, through the aisles at the grocery store-- and we have such trouble slowing down. At some point between third and twelfth grade we lose the mental freedom to take off running for no reason. We stop racing our friends from one point to another just because. Running becomes a chore, one of many tortuous things to be done in order to stay fit and healthy.
I think it all starts with the timed mile run in Phys. Ed. The "test" separates each class into losers and winners without ever naming them as such. But the kids know that those who finish first are somehow inherently better than those that finish last. Running becomes just another way in which we are different and the stripping of joy begins.
I wasn't the fastest runner in elementary school but I wasn't the slowest either. I was squarely in the middle and I was, for the most part, comfortable in my spot. So comfortable in fact, that I stayed there through middle school, high school and most of college before I decided I was capable of more. If the stigma of the "mile run" didn't exist, would I have enjoyed that many more years of running untethered to emotional and mental baggage? Probably not because myriad other factors--diet, activity level, interests--contribute just as much. But I still have negative feelings about running a mile. A 5k? No problem! Two miles? No problem! But a mile? That still causes me to feel sick to my stomach, like I'm about to speak in front of 1,000 people for the first time. I'd love to hear if anyone else has the same feeling.
At this point I must confess, I've not read Born to Run, and I know it's essential reading regarding the issues about which I'm ranting. Thankfully I've had enough friends converted by the book to understand the basics: We lost the joy of running and the freedom of moving through our environments unencumbered and now it's time to get back to our roots. I'm adding it to my list. Hopefully I'll be able to borrow a copy soon.
Which brings me to my second thought for the day: Why do we need a book to tell us what we lost?
For me this journey allows me to reconnect to the creek jumping, trouble getting, barefoot-in-the-summer kid I was until I got distracted.
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Day 3: First Saturday morning run
Just over a mile around the neighborhood with my wife.
Katie came with me today. She's not a big fan of running but she made it through!
The route today took us through another section of the neighborhood made up of duplexes. The overall feeling reminds me of running through the neighborhood where Elliott and family live in "E.T." To say I'm not a big fan of "E.T." would be an understatement but thankfully the houses aren't the source of my anxiety. But that's a whole other post.
It felt good to get out early on a Saturday and run. This whole thing feels more manageable and doable now that I'm in the thick of it and my confidence grows every day.
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
Katie came with me today. She's not a big fan of running but she made it through!
The route today took us through another section of the neighborhood made up of duplexes. The overall feeling reminds me of running through the neighborhood where Elliott and family live in "E.T." To say I'm not a big fan of "E.T." would be an understatement but thankfully the houses aren't the source of my anxiety. But that's a whole other post.
It felt good to get out early on a Saturday and run. This whole thing feels more manageable and doable now that I'm in the thick of it and my confidence grows every day.
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
Friday, August 27, 2010
So far so good...
1 mile and some change. Little League World Series on the TV. Hawaii vs. Georgia.
After yesterday's kick-off run I was worried about today. My right hip-flexor was sore yesterday and my back was/is aching from X Train on Wednesday. Thankfully today's mile on the treadmill went off without a hitch.
The Little League World Series game was interesting in the way it's interesting to watch a highly skilled predatory animal devour something helpless. Hawaii hammered in run after run and Georgia looked like they just wanted to go home. Eventually I looked at the waterfall out the window instead.
I have a hard time relating to the kids and parents that get involved in the highest level of sport at a young age. It looks so stressful, like all the fun's been sucked out and replaced with unrealistic expectations and crushing consequences. To be fair, I was never a competitive kid. I played a few years of recreational league soccer through middle and high school but was never interested in practicing outside of the 1 or 2 times per week the team met on some scrubby field in North Raleigh. I played my heart out each game but after every game I left my drive on the field.
I think that's what intrigues me most about keeping up this streak: I have a drive, something internal that's pushing me forward. I'm genuinely excited about running and I can't wait for the next mile. We'll see how long this honeymoon stage lasts but I fell really good about it so far and that's got to account for something.
The real test will come Sunday morning.
One last thing: my idea inspired someone else to join me. Glenn, a member at the Y, decided to start his streak today. A community--large or small--could be really helpful as the streak moves from days, to weeks, to months, to years. Want to join us?
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
After yesterday's kick-off run I was worried about today. My right hip-flexor was sore yesterday and my back was/is aching from X Train on Wednesday. Thankfully today's mile on the treadmill went off without a hitch.
The Little League World Series game was interesting in the way it's interesting to watch a highly skilled predatory animal devour something helpless. Hawaii hammered in run after run and Georgia looked like they just wanted to go home. Eventually I looked at the waterfall out the window instead.
I have a hard time relating to the kids and parents that get involved in the highest level of sport at a young age. It looks so stressful, like all the fun's been sucked out and replaced with unrealistic expectations and crushing consequences. To be fair, I was never a competitive kid. I played a few years of recreational league soccer through middle and high school but was never interested in practicing outside of the 1 or 2 times per week the team met on some scrubby field in North Raleigh. I played my heart out each game but after every game I left my drive on the field.
I think that's what intrigues me most about keeping up this streak: I have a drive, something internal that's pushing me forward. I'm genuinely excited about running and I can't wait for the next mile. We'll see how long this honeymoon stage lasts but I fell really good about it so far and that's got to account for something.
The real test will come Sunday morning.
One last thing: my idea inspired someone else to join me. Glenn, a member at the Y, decided to start his streak today. A community--large or small--could be really helpful as the streak moves from days, to weeks, to months, to years. Want to join us?
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
Here goes nothing...
Day 1 (Yesterday):
4.14 miles through my neighborhood. No dogs.
I wanted to start my streak on a strong note with just the right music and just the right tempo. About halfway through the music was too loud and hard and the tempo was a bit more than I wanted. I've run the same route 5 or 6 times without issue but Beloved's driving drums and wall of guitars amped up my pace to the point where I had to rein it back in. Though I've almost always run with music of some sort, I'm beginning to see the benefits of keeping it simple. My hands are free if I trip. My ears are tuned in to the people and animals around me--some friendly, some not. My thoughts are clearer and I'm more in tune to my mind when it has something particularly insightful to say. It doesn't happen all that often so it's good to catch it when I can.
If you've never heard of streak running before: "the official definition of a running streak, as adopted by the United States Running Streak Association, Inc., is to run at least one continuous mile within each calendar day under one's own body power (without the utilization of any type of health or mechanical aid other than prosthetic devices)." (Thanks USRSA)
More than anything else this endeavor is an effort to create some accountability and motivation: I'll stay physically active through the running and mentally active through the writing. While I've done both sporadically over the years, I'm looking forward to the development this discipline will bring. Hopefully I'll inspire someone else at the same time, much like Nancy West did for me. (Thanks Dick Gordon)
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
4.14 miles through my neighborhood. No dogs.
I wanted to start my streak on a strong note with just the right music and just the right tempo. About halfway through the music was too loud and hard and the tempo was a bit more than I wanted. I've run the same route 5 or 6 times without issue but Beloved's driving drums and wall of guitars amped up my pace to the point where I had to rein it back in. Though I've almost always run with music of some sort, I'm beginning to see the benefits of keeping it simple. My hands are free if I trip. My ears are tuned in to the people and animals around me--some friendly, some not. My thoughts are clearer and I'm more in tune to my mind when it has something particularly insightful to say. It doesn't happen all that often so it's good to catch it when I can.
If you've never heard of streak running before: "the official definition of a running streak, as adopted by the United States Running Streak Association, Inc., is to run at least one continuous mile within each calendar day under one's own body power (without the utilization of any type of health or mechanical aid other than prosthetic devices)." (Thanks USRSA)
More than anything else this endeavor is an effort to create some accountability and motivation: I'll stay physically active through the running and mentally active through the writing. While I've done both sporadically over the years, I'm looking forward to the development this discipline will bring. Hopefully I'll inspire someone else at the same time, much like Nancy West did for me. (Thanks Dick Gordon)
See you tomorrow...
Ryan
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