What is there to say...

Something strange happens when I am running. At some point, I lose all sense of propriety. Correction, I know exactly that what I am saying is not a polite topic of conversation, but I proceed to say it nonetheless...and with abandon.


Over the past several weeks, I have forced MK to talk about basically every topic of conversation that can be covered by two best friends. We've discussed the movies (The Social Network...pretty solid, but kind of depressing...I enjoyed it), our romantic escapades (I use the word "escapades" to convey a sense of excitement and intrigue...this part of our conversation is usually quite short), various financial topics (including, but not limited to, who's turn it is to fork over the $3.50 for our group queso during our post run breakfast at the Taco Joint), and general complaints (ranging from "I smell awful" to "You smell awful", etc.).


But the topic that I frequent the most is one revolving around my gastrointestinal tract.

Ah, the GI Tract...one of God's great jokes. I mean, picture it. It just looks weird. No one knows how it works (doctors, please lower your hands)...but we all know when it is not. And the times when it is not working somehow manage to coincide almost precisely with when we, as humans, are running.


Any runner has heard of the trots...we live in fear of the grumbling that belies a painful jolt to a disgusting rest stop...you read about it in running magazines and online running websites, where they refer to it with quotation marks or print it in italics. This might lead you to believe that tummy troubles are a topic of conversation that cannot be broached between runners in public. Don't be fooled. Nothing is taboo in the brother/sisterhood of running companions...most particularly the trots.


I remember running past the arboretum with my coach during last year's program while he relayed to me a story involving a Friday night t-bone steak, a bottle of wine and a 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning clinched jog to the 7-11. I believe the words "exploded" and "tragic" were used several times. I still cannot look at that convenience store in the same way.


I have told people I hardly know (and been told by people I do not know) exactly what I/they ate for dinner the night before and the merits of that cuisine in regards to its digestion related effects. We've discussed the pros and cons of breakfast pre-run...what that breakfast should consist of and when it should be consumed. We've talked about recommendations from various nutritionists, websites, running magazines and grandmothers. But we don't just talk about it...we live it.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I enjoy a hardy blech now and again. I am not ashamed of this. In fact I rather enjoy it. But I am afraid that I have literally woken slumbering households on the streets of Lakewood due to burps that can only be described as "thunderous". Additionally, I could fill a small pond with the amount of saliva I produce during a weekly long run. I hate spitting. I hate it when people spit, and I hate spitting myself.

So why this sudden freedom to discuss the comings and goings of the bowels and their supporting glandular pals? Frankly, I'm not sure. Much like being slightly inebriated, running gives you carte blanche to proudly discuss almost any topic. Sure, it's not for everyone. To be clear, MK is more of a passive observer rather than an active participant. But when else do you get to discuss the strong points of various port-a-potties and the exact location of bushes that might work in a pinch.

I try to remind myself that if people slowly move away from me during my run, it might be because they don't subscribe to my free spirited no-holds-barred conversations (in which case, good ridance), or it might be because they are suffering through their own "moving" experience and just want you to be upwind (in which case, God bless).

Timmy

She of Little Faith

As you are all painfully aware, my blogging entries have been sparse as of late. There are a number of reasons for the lack of blogging, none of which are exciting or interesting in the least...except for the bit about having my hands chopped off in a third world prison after being accused of stealing a pastry...which did not happen, but that is the type of exciting/interesting thing I am talking about.

My lack of blogging has nothing to do with a lack of running excitement over the past few weeks. There have been trials, and yes, tribulations. And there have been miles...many, many miles. What there has not been is a lot of free time, which translates in to not a lot of blog entries.

This past Thursday a big project I have been working on finally closed. With that closing came a narrow window of freedom which I promptly started to crack open. My new (re)found flexibiilty caused me to realize what a sorry job I have been doing on this "web log", as it were. To be clear, I have taken more than a little heat from KC and MK about my lack of dedication to this site (for those of you who have missed it, KC's blog is what my blog wants to be when it grows up...and can be found here...www.kristijustpassedyou.blogspot.com).

My moment of clarity, combined with several weeks of disparaging remarks, somehow culminated in a post-22 mile run, Saturday morning declaration wherein I committed to updating this page with "meaningful content" and not just "I ran ___ miles"-posts (as KC puts it) at least 5 times a week from now until the marathon.

The reaction that followed my proclamation was a mixed bag of hilarity and dumbfoundedness. As a point of comparison, when I declared my decision to run a marathon, the responses ranged from "That is wonderful, you can do it!" to the more common "Wait a moment while I repress the tears that your inspirational act as caused me to shed...Tim, you are my hero." Saturday's reaction was more akin to "Whoa there Tim, let's not aim too high" or "Ha, mwah ha, hold...ha!...on...hee, hee, hee, can't catch breath...that's absurd." I was taken aback.

How was it possible that my closest friends could have so little faith in my commitment to blogging? As I pointed out to MK, I type all day everyday, all I have to do is redirect that typing energy. Running a marathon actually requires me to partake in an activity in which I was not at all inclined to partake willingly or for any extended period of time. Yet, to my friends, a completed marathon seems infinitely more likely to occur than a 5-substantive-blog-entry week.

I have spent a lot of time, and made a lot of jokes, about their lack of faith in my blogging stick-to-it-ive-ness. Feigned hurt feelings at their (totally justified) scepticism. And spent some serious time planning some standby topics, just in case I hit a writers/runners wall. But in the end, I am still a little confused as to why my commitment to this running diary engenders so little trust as compared to my running endeavors themselves, which seems far more absurd a goal if you have known me for any period of time. And I think I know why.

Blogging is a singular, isolated activity. Unless you leave a comment (Ginny) I have no way of knowing that you have even seen these words. There are no spectators on the sidelines, no sign waving in the crowd. I have followers (shout out!), but none of them are showing up in my office to tell me "you can do it...blog the hell out of that entry!"

Running is also a singular, isolated activity...for many people. But not for me. When I think about my marathon training, I don't think about the hours on end I have spent running alone in the dark. I think about meeting my best friend at our designated port-a-potty at 5:15 on Saturday morning, every Saturday morning, and getting to spend the next several hours catching up on the meaningless and the meaningful. I don't think about my early mornings stumbling over my shoes as I prepare for the drudgery. I think about the mornings when I've been stumbling my way slowly up the Sperry loop, ready to give up, and a tiny hand belonging to an impossibly cute blond has caught me on the small of my back and told me I could do it. One pat on the back from someone you adore...that's all it takes to make it to the end.

Of course I can run a marathon. With friends like mine, how could I not run a marathon.

Oh, and girls, one down.

Timmy

A Time for Running

For everything there is a season...I think either Hallmark or God said that. Regardless, it's true. For the past several weeks work and running have been in season. Blogging, not so much. But that era has come to an end. I am 23 days from my (first?) marathon and I am really excited. Unfortunately, that excitement has had to take a back seat to some serious working since early September. It's sad when I look forward to leaving work a little early just so I can get in a good run before immediately going to bed...sad and satisfying.

Let me take a moment to get everyone up to date.

1. My hip is feeling awesome. For those of you not in the know, I have torn the labral cartilege in my hip and will need to have surgery to repair the damage in December (after the marathon). In the meantime, I am getting steroid injections directly into my hip joint in an effort to build up muscles and get me through. I have my second and final injection on Monday and I am really hopeful that I will stay pain free (at least in the left hip area) through the marathon.

2. 20 miles has got nothing on me. Two weeks ago I ran 20 miles. It was a great run. I felt amazing. The weather was perfect. It wasn't easy, but in many was it was exactly like running 2 miles...10 times in a row without stopping.

3. I have really incredible friends and family. As you all know, I am committed to raising $3,000 for charity in order to run this race. As of this moment I am within $500. A part of me wants to just pull out the credit card and be done with it, but I am so amazed by people's generosity and support that I am selfishly holding back.

Okay, next time I sit down to write I am going to have my Garmin in my hand so that I can really update my total mileage, etc. I have NOT been consistent with that...so all those of you think I have only been running one or two times a week...false!

Timmy

3.55 miles.

Saturday- 20.16 miles!
Tuesday - 2.24 miles
Wednesday - 4.86 miles

12.6 miles. It's cool (hooray!) but it's 93% humidity (booooo!)

1.95 miles today. 4.01 miles yesterday.