Today is not that day

 I tried football my freshman year. That didn't go so well. So during the summer of 1973, heading into my sophomore year of high school, I decided to give cross country a try. My older brother had run last year so I had some familiarity. I started running during the summer to get ready. I had no idea what I was doing. But I discovered I was pretty good at it. Once the season began I quickly became our #2 runner and most importantly, faster than my brother!  I enjoyed the success so much I gave up my favorite sport, baseball, and went out for track in spring season.





Fast forward 44 years and I'm still running, and racing. No longer against other runners, but against myself and the aging process. Once it was the challenge to out push another runner, now it's the challenge to push myself to the physical and mental limits my body can take.  The voices, pain and agony are the same, the times are just slower.

It took my until college to learn about the pure joy of running. In high school I ran one pace for 30 minutes. In college I ran one pace but for 60 minutes. I learned the magic came at about 45 minutes into a run. Had I not run in college and learned that, I may not be running today.  My favorite run is still a 60 long run, but I've learned about varying the pace.

I haven't done a 60 minute run in several years. Getting beyond 30 has been a challenge this past year. It's made me wonder at times if I'm reaching the limit on these legs. I will fight off that day for as long as I can. There will be a day when I can no longer race, no longer run. Today is not that day.

Running The Stairway to Heaven with That Guy

 I've been in Eugene the past couple days for a conference which allowed me to traverse the paths that Pre ran and helped build. The bark chip paths of Pre's Trail as the wind through Alton Baker Park are quiet though they are shared with many others.

For me they also are a historic, reflective place. A running path I get to run once or twice a year. A place to reflect on a 45 year running career and seek renewal in the meditative rhythm of my footsteps.

That Guy on The Stairway to Heaven

This trip the meditation came with more difficulty as I'm feeling out of shape and heavy. I was able to get in the longest run in a couple months, 32 minutes of at 5:1 run/walk. It was a struggle more than anything.  But it was a chance to run with That Guy and to once again enjoy the beauty and serenity of a special place to run.

It's always good when the meditation is brought on my the euphoric feeling of mind and body in sync. But sometimes it's a struggle. The struggle is part of the reality and makes the euphoric all them more special when it happens.  Running is a continuum, a daily, or as the case is now, nearly daily effort of getting the physical in tune.

Sometimes I am still ahead of him.

After 45 years of running I sometimes wonder if there are a limited number of miles in a pair of legs. I think the limit is really lies in how smart one trains in these latter years. Hard efforts are fewer, miles are slower, recovery longer.  It's been frustrating lately with the nagging calf tightness/cramping. Now my back is tight, mostly during the day, but it does effect my runs.

As I unpacked on this trip I realized I had packed for cool morning runs rather than warmer afternoons and didn't bring any running shorts. Fortunately, the Run Hub store is just a few blocks from the Eugene Hilton so I went over there to purchase some shorts.  And who would greet me as I stepped into the dressing room to try on the shorts?