Yesterday morning I hit another milestone. One that I expected to hit over six months ago, but thanks to my little hiccup with a broken foot it took a lot longer than expected. This time it was hitting my 6,000th mile running (since I started running for the sake of running back in 2003). It was a quiet milestone that I forgot I was hitting until I came home and went to log it into my log. I actually got this one about 1/4 of a mile into the run so I was basically just warming up.
Having just gotten back from my summer vacation in Ocean City, Md. it reminded me of a sign as you are leaving Ocean City on Route 50. I don't remember seeing it last year or this year, but there used to be a sign that read, Sacramento, CA 3,073. If that mileage is accurate I could have trekked from Ocean City to Sacramento and "almost" back by going over mile number 6,000.
Tomorrow: More steps toward 7,000....
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
D-E-E-N-A
Today I received an update from the Chicago Marathon organizers with very good news. Deena Kastor, an American running icon and women's record holder, will be making her return to marathon running at the 2009 Chicago Marathon. Why is this a big deal to me? Several reasons. I recall watching the women's marathon during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and it was that day that I became a huge fan of Deena Kastor. She worked her way up through a very tough field in 90 degree heat and finished in 3rd place capturing the bronze medal.
She then went on to win the Chicago Marathon the following year, setting a women's marathon record. I have followed her running since then and occasionally check into her blog site to see what is up with her. I decided to send her an email after watching the movie Spirit of the Marathon. She is one of the runners in the movie that directors followed and profiled as they prepared for the 2005 Chicago Marathon. Amazingly, Deena responded to my email and then again several months later after I emailed her again.
When I was injured last winter, I sent her another email as we both shared the pain and suffering of not being able to run (she broke a bone in her foot and was unable to finish the Olympic Marathon in Beijing last year). I connected with her on that level and when she responded to me with words of encouragement I realized that runners are unlike any other athlete. For those that don't know (if you're not into running, you probably don't), she is a running icon in American women's marathoning. For her to respond is like having Alex Rodriquez or Albert Pujols respond to an email. To me that was amazing.
Knowing that she will be in Chicago and I may have a chance to meet her and shake her hand and let her know how much she helped me get through a mentally tough period will be priceless. It is another reason to motivate me as well this summer as my Chicago training is now underway.
She then went on to win the Chicago Marathon the following year, setting a women's marathon record. I have followed her running since then and occasionally check into her blog site to see what is up with her. I decided to send her an email after watching the movie Spirit of the Marathon. She is one of the runners in the movie that directors followed and profiled as they prepared for the 2005 Chicago Marathon. Amazingly, Deena responded to my email and then again several months later after I emailed her again.
When I was injured last winter, I sent her another email as we both shared the pain and suffering of not being able to run (she broke a bone in her foot and was unable to finish the Olympic Marathon in Beijing last year). I connected with her on that level and when she responded to me with words of encouragement I realized that runners are unlike any other athlete. For those that don't know (if you're not into running, you probably don't), she is a running icon in American women's marathoning. For her to respond is like having Alex Rodriquez or Albert Pujols respond to an email. To me that was amazing.
Knowing that she will be in Chicago and I may have a chance to meet her and shake her hand and let her know how much she helped me get through a mentally tough period will be priceless. It is another reason to motivate me as well this summer as my Chicago training is now underway.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
What a Beautiful Day for a Run...Let's Do Two!
It had been since September of 2008 until today. Today was the day I decided to go for a run for the second day in a row. Most impressive was that yesterday I did 6 miles in the afternoon and then turned around with 4 today in the late morning. That's 10 miles in less than 24 hours and two consecutive days. People do it all the time, but for me today was a major milestone in my comeback from a broken navicular bone. It's almost as if the stars are aligning since my official Chicago Marathon training begins next Monday. I felt that I needed to be doing at least 8 mile long runs by the time that training started and although I have only done 6, I feel as though I could easily do 10 right now. As a result, my confidence grows and I am on track. Pain is always right around the next corner, but for now I have put it behind me and am feeling fairly healthy as I get ready for the next 17 weeks of training that I hope culminates in a Boston qualifier. Hey, I'll take finishing, but as I continue to find out in life and sports in general, never say never and never put anything out of reach. Anything is possible if you work hard and that's what I intend to do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)