Running is only a part of your life. It's not your entire life. When we get so wound up in our running goals -- I have my fourth 32-mile ultramarathon coming up in 8 weeks -- if affects everything we do. At the same time, running only affects a part of your life. And remember -- nobody really wants to hear about your running life anyway.
Training is something that's uniquely personal. My humble opinion is that anyone training for an ultra needs to be training in the right heart-rate zone as well as consistently with what meets their own goals. As for me, I have no clue. I've only done 3 ultras before. I ask myself: Is what I've done in the past to prepare for an ultra the same thing I need today at 73 (74 on race day)? Today I did a training run at the High Bridge Trail.
You know this trail well. It's where I love to train. And it's the same trail I'll be running the ultra in May. No doubt the recipe for running a strong ultra includes determination, motivation, and putting an element of pressure on yourself. But for the love of money, find the balance between training and overtraining. Don't let running ruin your life. Don't let it sacrifice your health. Don't become another victim of overtraining. Don't run until something backfires. Set the right training zones to improve those metabolic and cellular adaptations that optimize your fitness level. Then leave them alone.
At any rate, I had a wonderful day enjoying God's magnificent creation while running and getting in my daily steps. Those who age should give thanks to God for his faithfulness and his promise to carry and comfort us as we grow old. Even as our bodies age, choosing to be thankful is a spiritual, soothing act. Aging brings us closer to the promise of eternal life and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Today was leg day at the gym. Can these twigs (aka legs) get me 32 miles in May? Stay tuned!
The weather could not have been better for a 6 mile run.
I've never a had a running coach. Running simply means being fully aware of your own body. It's not an end in itself. It's a means to an end. Running means being alive. And good running form can only increase efficiency, which in turn can lead to a faster pace. Today I ran around a 14-minute mile pace though I did get down to 13-minute miles at times. As you know, I think my running form is anything but great. I think that no matter how we got our start in running, there is a reason we haven't stopped. We are all looking for a way to boost ourselves mentally, a way to make our bodies stronger, a way to find ourselves rejuvenated. I'm no exception.
Light at the end of the tunnel? This is just plain fun. I know that running is not a panacea (that means "cure all" for all of you public school kids out there), but it's a clear start.