The 60/45 Year

The year is coming to a close, heading off to a week on Isla Mujeres tomorrow, time for some reflection and looking ahead.

This year is ending an upswing. I'm feeling like my body is getting stronger and I've had some good end of the year runs and training weeks. Heading into the new year I'm feeling positive but also cautious. The new revelation of having gout means I've got to be on the alert for flair ups and stop them before it gets too painful.  I'm also optimistic that I can gradually increase my mileage and do more races this year, maybe even a triathlon.

I've signed up for a 5k on March 17 to celebrate my birthday. This year the celebration will be called 60/45. 60 years of living, 45 years as a runner.

Some comparisons of the last few years:

Year running miles races tris biking miles 2013 923 10 3 850 2014 362 2 0 1213 surgery 2015 726 4 1 590 2016 526 0 0 577 2017 470 3 0 482
I'm a bit surprised by the running miles being less this year than last.

I'm calling 2018 my 60/45 milestone year. 60 years living, 45 years running.  A year to celebrate longevity.  I'm entering it healthy and running about 15 miles a week with a long run of 4. I'm looking forward to slowly building that up. I'd like to do a sprint tri and a half marathon. Smart training and listening to my body is becoming more important.

The Challenge

The challenge these days is not in how fast or how far but in not giving up. There have been times the last three years when I've thought retiring from running was in my immediate future. Mornings when my body was in such discomfort that even a couple hundred yards was painful. It was those mornings when I questioned whether the journey was ending.

The days of pushing through a bad or painful run are gone, for now. Now it's about how I'm feeling. If my legs, back or other part of me is hurting, the run is short, even to a few yards. But if things are feeling good, I'll finish what was planned and most likely go a bit farther. I take advantage of those days, enjoy them more, cherish the ability to not think about what aches but rather reflect on whatever enters my mind.

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Join me in celebrating a couple of milestones in 2018.

On a recent run, I got thinking about the upcoming year, 2018. It will be one of those milestone years. How would I like to celebrate turning 60? I'm not one to run 60 miles, call it lazy or being sane, whichever fits. But after 60 years on this planet, the previous 45 spent as a runner, I'd like to celebrate not just 60 but having trained as a runner every year since 1973.

I use to be fairly fast. I trained to compete for podium finishes or to run marathons. The challenge these days is not in how fast or how far, but in not giving up. There have been times during the past three years when I've thought retiring from running was in my immediate future. Mornings when my body was in such discomfort that running even a couple hundred yards was too painful to continue. It was those mornings when I questioned whether the journey was ending. It’s not ending, it’s just slowing down and going not quite as far... some days done more gracefully than others.

To celebrate this milestone I’ll be running the Run to Get Lucky 5k in Corvallis on my birthday, March 17 (http://www.runtogetlucky.com/). You’re invited to join me in the 5k or the 15k, running, walking or enthusiastically cheering. Afterward at the beer tent, we’ll celebrate the journey of this running life.

“...to slow down as slowly and gracefully as possible.” Frank Shorter.

(If you want to give me a present, sign up to volunteer for the Salem Triathlon in September 2018. I'm the vol coordinator, best present you could give me!)

A Look Back

Sometimes you just have to take advantage of feeling good. This morning was a planned shorter run but my body was feeling good so I extended it to 3.5 miles. That is a longer run right now!  But since I was feeling it gave me the opportunity to reflect on the up coming year end and moving into another age group classification.

I got thinking about how I would like to celebrate turning 60. I'm obviously not going to run 60 miles or 60 laps or something like that. I'd like to celebrate not a single day accomplishment but the longevity of having trained every year since 1973. I've not sustained a consecutive days streak, nor have I run 1000 miles or more every year, but I have run every year, trained in some fashion sometimes for races, other times for sanity.

SAXC, probably senior year

After 45 years of running, what are the highlights?  There are people, places, things, a few races.

The people:
Running many miles with Marky that developed into a life long friendship that has sustained us both through good and bad times. 

Eugene Marathon

Marathon training with Kasey, describing to Jasmine how to race the Bush Park course, strategizing how to with the family championship races.


Training for the Eugene marathon with Rev. John Stumbo, discussing faith and religion. He not judging my beliefs and disappointment with Christianity. Much like Marky in that way.

The internet running club and the members I still stay in touch with. They helped motivate my marathon training back in the day.

The Hood to Coast teams.
 

The places, not exotic but full of memories:
Hayward Field, finishing a marathon on the Hayward track.

The country roads around Geneva as I began this journey of becoming a runner.

Hood to Coast, last leg...Waking up on the final morning, needing motivation for the final leg, as my body is sore from sleeping on the ground and the two previous legs. Then realizing, I get to fucking run today! A beautiful sunny morning, 8 miles of rolling hills. It was one of my most joyous runs.

Every Thankful Four I've run in Wakarusa.

T4 2017

 The steeplechase water jump at the UE track.

This isn't the UE track,  but look at that form!

Things:
Something yellow on race day


Orange shoe laces
 
Brooks Adrenalins
Gloves on cool mornings
Racing bibs


The races:
College conference meet where I placed and earned my letter jacket.
Swiss Days 10 miler, 5th overall, 59:43

Grand Junction, CO the finish of a 10k that felt perfect.
Eugene
Yakima

That Guy likes cold and sunny

This weekend was the first really cold one for running. Low 30s yet sunny. Cold and sunny is great running conditions. It felt good to be out in the daylight, working up a sweat in cold weather.

So sis in law got toilet snake stuck in the toilet this evening. Had to take the toilet apart to get it unstuck. She is a walking nightmare. No motivation, no incentive, hell just found out she hasn't been using laundry detergent because she didn't know it went in the washing machine,..she's been her 6 fucking months! Fucking ask!

That Guy finishes another Rainbow Lake 5k

Thanksgiving in Indiana again. Another Thankful Four in Wakarusa with Jared and Jasmine being the Turkeys.

 Ran the two mile instead of the four since training hasn't been that good. The two miles felt difficult, 18 something to complete it. After cheered other finishers until Jasmine and Jared finished. It was fun to watch people finishing and highfiving the kids.  After showering and naps at the hotel, went to Marky's in-laws for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with his family.  Later the 6  of us drove to Geneva where Kasey and Nick were waiting with grandma.

Saturday was the Rainbow Lake 5k and the family championship. West coast family threepeated with Jared and Nick tieing for top family honors. The battle for World's Fastest Stucky trophey was again won by Jasmine, with Kasey being unable to hang on and execute her strategy of out sprinting her at the end. I was way out of the running, but ran a consistent pace for a 28:15 time.  
I was still a difficult run as That Guy demonstrates after crossing the finish. It was then to the fire station for soups provided by the South Adams cross country parents.   Then the family  photo when all the awards were done being handed out. Jasmine and Kasey finished 2nd and 3rd in their age groups while Nick finished 3rd and Jared fourth in their age groups.
 

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