Milestones

I know it’s weird to do a “year in review” update in March, but I just reached a significant milestone.

I believe in the value of setting goals. One year ago I ran my first 100 mile month and set the goal of maintaining that level of running for at least one full year. I achieved that goal this month.

Succeeding required running a total of 1,516 miles including:

• four 5k’s
• a 4 mile race on the beach
• a 15k
• two half marathons
• two marathons, and
• completing an ultramarathon training program (I’m currently tapering for the race on 4/9/11)

I suffered aches and pains along the way, but managed to complete the year without incurring any significant injuries.  I attribute this both to Chi Running and to the sage advice of some very patient, generous and accomplished runners.

I discovered that the benefits of an ice bath far outweigh a few minutes of discomfort and rediscovered the long lost, youthful pleasures hidden deep within a tall glass of chocolate milk.

I found serenity in a 20 mile long run.

Most importantly, I found a great group of new friends who share my passion for running. I know I couldn’t have achieved this without them.

Last night I had the strangest dream . . .

I sailed away to China
In little row boat to find ya

Wrong dream.

I dreamt I awoke at 3:00 in the morning and ran 20 miles before sunrise. Isn’t that a ridiculous thing to dream?

It started blissfully. I was running along a quiet country road with my path lit by a full moon. The road was so deserted I could fearlessly run down the yellow centerline. It felt like the world was mine for the taking.

It ended in a bit of a nightmare. My quiet country road turned into a busy highway with evil, wild eyed commuters gleefully targeting the fool trying to run on the shoulder of the road, who was hobbling along trying to ignore the pain shooting down the side of his knee.

When the dream ended, I was happy to find myself safe and sound at home but drenched in sweat with my heart racing.

A very odd dream indeed, but I think I know what triggered it.

Drinking German beer on St. Patrick’s Day.

Happy Birthday WVR!

Click

View from Lake Helen Osteen Rd.

Did you ever have the sensation of things suddenly clicking into place, like the gears on a bike finding purchase?

On a lark (I love that expression) Saturday I decided to run to a local 5k. Not “in,” “to.” I wasn’t racing, I was merely going to cheer for friends who were.  I needed the mileage anyway and I figured I could kill two birds with one stone (I hate that expression).

It was a fairly long run, about 18 miles round trip.  At some point during that run, lost in my thoughts and the early morning mist, I experienced that click. Suddenly running was more than a workout, more than just miles checked off a training program, more than just an effort to get fit.

Running, as a mode of transportation, to an event so distant brought home the realization that it is now truly an integral part of my life.

And I was at peace.

If you’re not enjoying the scenery, you’re running too fast.

Blackwater Creek

I’m running as much as ever and running trails at every opportunity but a hectic few weeks kept me largely unplugged from the digital world.

To make up for it, I give you scenes from the Seminole State Forest, with very little commentary. I ran the trail on Sunday, got lost twice, startled a deer (OK I confess, the deer startled me), got baked by the sun, struggled with runner’s knee, carried too little water and got dehydrated, got scratched, dirty, bitten . . . and loved every minute of it.

I should credit the quote I used for the title of this post as being from a book I'm reading, Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters with the Ultramarathon.  It's a collection of race reports from ultra marathons that I am finding very inspirational.



Luxury accomodations courtesy of the Florida Trail Assoc.



Hiker sign in



This is where you really sense the solitude, a nice change of pace from the long green tunnel.





Eden?



A little road running was a nice break from uneven ground and very easy on the legs.



Getting lost was very easy. The trail looked obvious enough in the top photo but when I reached the tree line it narrowed to a game trail and then vanished. Doubling back I found the actual trail was a much smaller footpath hidden behind palmetto to the right of the trail marker. I didn’t even see it the first time through.



I've been told this is my element.