M.C. Escher

There are hills that go up and hills that go down.  Today's run felt like I was only going uphill, like I was running in an M.C. Escher painting.

Silly, Ridiculous and Obscene

The Silly:   I feel pretty foolish wearing a fuel belt, even sillier throwing down $35 for one.   Fuel belts are elastic waist bands with 4 little 8 oz. water bottles all around and a couple of pockets.  It resembles a military-issue grenade belt except it's not camouflage and you're not wearing it in combat.   Functionally, it's heart is in the right place.  Staying hydrated during a 2 hour run is important...but it is far and away the dorkiest thing I own.  It's the runner's equivalent to a pocket protector.

The Ridiculous:  "Recovery runs"  There is a logical reason for scheduling a 5 mile run the day after a 2 hour run, but it's not help you recover.  It's a misnomer that misleadingly triggers visions of spas or tranquility fountains. These are not the images that I conjured when actually on these runs nor did I really feel recovered after them.  I will continue to do these "Recovery Runs", but they would be more aptly named "Ridiculous Runs."

Runner up for "The Ridiculous" was ice baths.  Not because willingly putting yourself in a bathtub with ice is ridiculous, but because 2 bags of ice in NYC will cost you $8.  That's ridiculous.

The Obscene:   The blister on my pinky toe or rather my blister that used to be my pinky toe. Gross.

BTW - Recommitment is today. Despite the Silly, Ridiculous and Obscene,  I'm 100% in!  Let's keep the fundraising going!

  http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/rnr10/jcostelryq

First Personal Record

Last week I ran in the NY Colon Cancer Challenge, a 4 Mile race.   I met up with some fellow TNTers at the "corral," we heard a loosely harmonious rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and then, with a blow of an air horn, we were on our way.

The first mile was Cat Hill, my personal nemesis this training season.  But I learned that when you start your run on that beast, you have the most energy to tackle it and no little Wall monsters popping up in front of you and messing with your head.    Then running with the group was actually fun.  There were not a lot of people on the course cheering you on, but even the race marshal's little "great job" or "almost there" was just the fuel to keep me going and push myself harder.

I finished the run in 41:38, which is a personal record for me.  I actually have nothing to compare it to, but I now actually have something for my personal record.  And that's a first.