Amazing how in the first 30 days of 365, I have wandered with you. The trek through my minds many turns. Organically, we have about three themes unraveling with random interludes. Stay tuned.
Theme 1: Gear Box. Yesterday, I rolled out the answer to the question, "what are the wraps on your legs?" Answer: Compression. I'll continue to talk about the items I have found helpful. Shoes, GPS, etc. When we are done with the current items, I will probably have a new gadget or opinion.
Theme 2: Mind Tools. A few days ago, I explained Praxis and before that, we launched with 'Micro Goal Setting." An entire year could just write on this.
Theme 3: Runner's You Should Know.From David Goggins, Ray Zahab, Ray Sanchez, and most recent, Charlie Engle. This coming Monday, we introduce the first four woman of the series...
David Goggins Runs Through Badwater Heat
Theme 4: Why I Run?.Clearing the moments of darkness and the gleaning the summits of significance, it can sometimes be darkness that drives me.
Theme 5: Taboo Topics. Usually on a longer run, the coversation happen easier. Runners will open up and ask a question they wanted info on but may be to afraid google it. From bloody nipples, chafing, cramping, bloating, puking, slush gut, smell, and on and on. We will give you the answers you want.
The Monthly Wrap... As we wrap up the first month tomorrow, 28/30 were running days. Eleven were both AM/PM runs. For example, 4 miles in the AM, 4 in the PM. I am using E-Stim most days and icing a ton. How long the running will last, only tomorrow knows.
Walking past the ticket line and into the theater, I felt butterflies fluttering in my gut. I have looked with great anticipation to the premier of Hood to Coast Running Documentary that chronicles three or four running teams in the largest relay race in the world. One thousand, 12-person teams run 197 miles from Mt Hood Oregon to the Pacific Ocean.
Amazing.
Watching the stories unfold in this one-night only premier was facinating and gripping. Sharing the evening with some of my closest friends was priceless.
As I entered, I immediately saw Dave Bry, a Sacramento Be Change Runner who had a crew of 6 to match our crew of 8. A nearly packed theater was filled with runners from the Sacramento Region who I have seen countless times at races. I smiled, waved, and thumbs up people who were there experiencing the same vibe of hope, exhilartation and a fore-knowledge that soon they to would be hoping to registar to run H2C.
Before the movie rolled, I took inventory of those with me.
Sheri and Sherene | These two are the Be Change Runners from Elk Grove who some how conjoled me into meeting them every Thursday AM for a 445AM Run in order to monitor their Intervals/Repeats. Nearly an hour away, I left at 345AM to be on time to run them. I loved watching their eyes light up at the CIM in December. Completely tenacious and resilient, their life approach is contagious.
Michelle | In days, she leaves for the Brazil 135 to be the Crew Chief Ray Sanchez and his attempt at a Top 10 finish. As a great runner, she has a rare ability to get Ray, a top Ultra-Elite, to listen to her. She runs Equal Start and directs so many aspects of all things "Equal Start."
Erika | Waiting for her husband to arrive and saving him a seat, her new found discovered love for running was painted on her face. After only 4 months of serious running, she placed as the 6th female to finish the Sierra Nevada Endurance Run and 23 rd overall. The endurance in which she runs is second to how she dreams and plans for runs on behalf of others and their needs.
Tracy | He and I have known each other since 6th grade or even earlier, Tracy jumped in with both feet and nailed his first marathon finish. We ran the North Shore in Hawaii a few weeks ago and yet we had as much excitement for H2C.
BK | Recently regenerated back into the run game, BK ran next to me in 2005 in my first ever marathon. He has now started to train again for an epic year of distance and a hope of a race a month...for Be Change. He is the change in the world I want to be.
Halfway through the movie, I wondered if each of them were thinking what I was thinking...could this be the making of a Hood to Coast team. Could each of us line up, lottery in, and lead the way for what a completely diverse team looks like. From fast and furious runners to long distance/strong plodders, could this be what is formatting in each of our minds...
Walking out of the theater, Tracy leaned over to me and said, I'm in!.
The rain poured as Tracy and I took off at 11:11AM for his 11 mile run. It was 1/1/11 and we wanted to find a worthy reason to run on Day 1 of 2011. The cold rain was a far cry from the last serious run I had with Tracy on the North Shore of Oahu.
Headed over some long ascents followed by some rolling hills along the lake, we were thrilled to have Be Change Runner Erika Small, joined us at mile 3. The three of us embraced the run, the rain, and the reason.
Mind swirling with race dates, I was determined to finalize which marathons, ultras, and shorts I would run. Maybe you are venturing into the running world for the first time. My friend BK is diving in. He had a staggering goal for 2011. With one marathon in 2005 under his belt and little running since, we have ventured into an aggressive, injury free, run schedule starting in January with a 5k. We will continue to ramp up with a healthy goals and successful steps towards his goals.
What are your goals? Have you ever wanted to be part of something larger than you? A team of people gathered for a common cause? Have you ever wanted to line up and run a race and recieve a medal of completion? You can.
Each person has a story. What is yours?
Begin to dream. Create a running calendar and start training...slowly. There are others out there wanting to do what you are venturing to do.
I've awaited the arrival of 2011. Twenty-ten was a fabulous year. It began with Michelle and Ashley crewing Ray in his first race of the BAD 135 Cup. I met him in Minnesota and cheered, supported and crewed him to a (-)fifty cold finish.
For me the year was spent in Rehab for my broken tibia. I never dreamed that the year would lead me to multiple 50 milers, a DNF on Rio Del Lago with Kidney Failure and the birthing of our own race in August of 2011...(more on that another day.)
I think of the more than 200 runners we have trained this year to 'resist the common.' I think of the Be Change Running Family that spread to Pennsylvania and now, Texas (DC) and Arizona (JS). I think of the numerous runners here in Sacramento that I call family. From Lodi to Loomis- From San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe...Be Change Runners...embracing pain for purpose. I am thankful.
Even as I blog this, Tracy Neal, a recent first time marathon finisher is texting me. "Rally Harp, "It's 1/1/11. At 11:11AM, I am running for 111 minutes." He is contagious. I probably need to grab my shoes and run with him.
What would this year look like if I ran everyday? Could my body handle it. What if I journaled it. What if I took a blunt look at the mental joust of hating it and loving it-needing it and dreading it. Would anyone read it?
What if I wrote about the pain and purpose that comes with running? What if I spoke to the aches and pains, the nutrition and race scheduling? What if I brain dumped all things running here?
I get to run with Tracy on his run...in the rain.
What if? Day One, done.
*Picture: Jimmy Dean Freeman, Jason Harper, Christina Silvas, Ray Sanchez on the course run of what will be Run for a Reason's IRON EXPRESS ENDURANCE RUN; July, 2010
