Book Review: Once A Runner

Hello!

A few weeks back I mentioned that I had bought a copy of Once A Runner by John L. Parker, Jr. to read before the marathon. I pretty much devoured the book within a few short days. This was of course aided by my being on vacation and also having to sit through several hours in the car on the way to the race. But, I also found it difficult to put down the book.

Once a Runner is the story of Quenton Cassidy, a collegiate miler at a university in Florida. The book really describes the life of a competitive distance runner. Quenton is primarily a track athlete, although he also competes less successfully in cross country. Since I am not an elite runner or even a competitive local runner and I never participated in track or cross country, I wasn't sure if I would really identify much with the book. But, I found a lot of the messages rang true. I think this is because although I am a midpacker, I take my training seriously. I get out there when it's windy, when it's raining and when I'm tired. I get my training in whatever is going on and wherever I am. This is the case for a lot of midpackers. We're serious runners despite not being genetically gifted! I think this concept is difficult for a lot of people to understand.

When I tell a nonrunner that I'm going to be racing that weekend, the first question is inevitably "Do you think you'll win?". When I explain to them that, no, I most definitely will not win, the next question is always "So you just do it for fun then?". No! I mean, it is fun, most of the time anyway. But, it's not always fun and I don't only run when it's going to be fun. I don't even run because it is fun. I run because it's my passion and because I can push myself. I run to know what I'm made of and to have some element of unwavering consistancy in my life. I run for PRs and for the satisfying exhaustion of a tough training week. I also run because, more than being "fun" in the amusement park sense, it is joyful. And those are the things that I have in common with the "good" runners of the world.

The book really hones in on some of the key aspects of the distance runner's psyche and experience. It discusses the single mindedness that runners often have and really must have to be very successful. At one point, the author describes the breaking down point where the body is almost to the point of utmost exhuastion and both the body and mind are in a state of malaise. Although not quite to the extent of Cassidy, I have definitely experienced this during marathon training. There is also a portion that discusses the questioning that can occur around that time. Is it worth it? Why do I do this to myself? I've been there. You probably have too.

Once A Runner is a very enjoyable and inspirational read. I would recommend it to any runner. It also is a cult classic, so reading it kind of catches you up with the rest of the global running community. The sequel, Again to Carthage was somewhat recently published. I'm currently listening to it as an audiobook. I don't like it nearly as much as the original so far, but it is really interesting to see the next chapter in Quenton Cassidy's life.

Here are a few quotes that I liked a lot. There are plenty more good ones, but I didn't mark them all down.

Not only to be better than his fellows, but better than himself. To be faster by a tenth of a second, by an inch, by two feet or two yards, than he had been the week or year before. He sought to conquer the physical limitations placed upon him by a three-dimensional world...

Training was a rite of purification; from it came speed, strength. Racing was a rite of death; from it came knowledge. Such rites demand, if they are to be meaningful at all, a certain amount of time spent precisely on the Red Line, where you can lean over the manicured putting green at the edge of the precipice and see exactly nothing.

And probably the best of all:

Running to him was real; the way he did it was the realest thing he knew. It was all joy and woe, hard as diamond; it made him weary beyond comprehension. But it also made him free.

Happy Reading and Running!
Jen

Widgits!

Widgits! I have widgits! (See the sidebar at the left).

I finally decided to join the DailyMile and put their training widgits into the blog. I haven't done my run yet today so for now I've got goose eggs. That'll change in a few hours though!

Happy Running!
Jen

Quick Additional Note on Grandma's

Hi!

I just wanted to add a quick additional note on Grandma's Marathon. Obviously my report isn't so cheery since the race did not go well for me. But, the race itself is superb. The organization was great. The buses and gear check were great, unlike a lot of races I've done where they've just been a mess. The course had a lot of spectators and the expo was good. The course itself was also pretty scenic and mostly flat.

I just wanted to clarify so that my poor performance doesn't come off as a bad reflection of the race as a whole.

Cheers!
Jen

2010 Grandma's Marathon

Hi!

Well, some races go well and some go like this one.

The 2010 Grandma's Marathon was my 5th marathon, the marathon for which I was the best trained and a Personal Worst by almost 30 minutes. Needless to say, I'm pretty disappointed. On the one hand, I truly believe that finishing any marathon is an accomplishment. Some days everything goes right and some days it doesn't. But, my training had gone well and I was running well and feeling primed for a PR, so coming home with a PW instead isn't a great feeling.

There was a homebrewing event that Joe wanted to go to in Minneapolis, so we headed over there on Wednesday. Basically it was a big party celebrating the 5 year anniversary of homebrewing podcasts/online community. We spent a few days there and headed up to Duluth on Friday.

Friday we went to the expo and packet pickup. We got to hear Kara Goucher and Dick Beardsley speak, which was great. I also picked up a purple Bondi Band that says "Run Like An Animal" on it. You can see it in some of the action shots below.

Me with my beautiful pink bib number at the expo:

We stayed at the University of Minnesota-Duluth dorms. It worked out great. It's no frills, but it was the cheapest option by far and was very convenient since the buses to the start picked up right outside.

Friday night we went out for sushi and then headed back to the dorms to relax, stretch, ice and play cribbage. I got to bed early and had a pretty decent night's sleep. I was able to hop right out of bed Saturday morning and get going. Everything went well with my normal morning routine. I only made one exception. I always drink coffee and regular water before long runs and races. For some reason, this time I was worried about hyponatremia (I drink A LOT of water), so I drank sports drink. Now, I've never had this issue before, so it was stupid to worry about it and to change my normal routine, but the pre-race crazies got to me.

The race started out smoothly. For the first several miles, I was clicking along at goal pace and everything was great. More than great, actually. My legs felt loose and strong and I felt like it was my day. Unfortunately, around mile 10 I could feel that something funny was going on with my stomach. By mile 12, the nausea was so bad that I couldn't tolerate fluids or nutrition. Basically at that point I was just surviving until the end. I finally got up the courage to take a look at my splits and they tell the story.

Mile 1: 8:18
Mile 2: 8:15
Mile 3: 8:32
Mile 4: 8:29
Mile 5: 8:16
Mile 6: 8:25
Mile 7: 8:21
Mile 8: 8:33
Mile 9: 8:55
Mile 10: 8:39
Mile 11: 10:43
Mile 12: 10:15
Mile 13: 9:34
Mile 14: 10:08
Mile 15: 11:32
Mile 16: 11:36
Mile 17: 12:56
Mile 18: 12:33
Mile 19: 10:25
Mile 20: 12:23
Mile 21: 12:57
Mile 22: 12:21
Mile 23: 12:56
Mile 24: 13:56
Mile 25: 11:57
Mile 26: 12:30
Chip time: 4:36:37

After I crossed the finish line, my first concern was getting to the curb to sit with my head between my knees to alleviate the nausea, so I forgot to stop my watch and missed the 0.2 at the end.

And for your viewing pleasure:

Gazelle-like elites:

I think that I was smiling-it just looks like a grimmace!

Luckily I have a great support group. Joe, my mom, my dad, Joe's dad, Joe's stepmom Ranei and his sister Emma Jo all had these bright orange shirts!

Trying not to look disappointed in my finisher's medal and tee shirt:

The only good thing about the race going so badly is that the slow pace prevented my legs from getting trashed. I ran last night and today and they are feeling very good already. Before the race, I had decided not to run a fall marathon and to focus on getting some leg speed and running shorter races in the fall. I'm feeling pretty sad at the prospect of no fall marathon, but I think focusing on speed will make me a better runner and I don't think we'll be able to afford to travel to a race anyway. The Boulder Marathon is too soon and I don't really want to run my next marathon at altitude, so that excludes Denver as well. With starting graduate school I'll have enough on my plate anyway, so it's probably all for the best. I can't resist looking into Philly though...

Assuming that I don't run a fall marathon, I hope to smash some 5k and 1/2 Marathon PRs in the fall and then focus on a spring marathon. The Shamrock Marathon falls during my spring break and is supposed to be a flat, fast course... For now I'm busying myself with researching 5k training plans and finding some target races!

Happy Running!

Jen

My Long Run Route

Hello!

One of the things that I'll miss when we move is the route where I typically do my long runs. Yes, I realize that Boulder is pretty much a mecca for outdoor activities and there will be plenty of GREAT places to run there. But, I'll miss this route nonetheless. It's cheesy, I know, but it's kind of like an old friend. I've spent so many early Sunday morning hours out there. It's on that path that I realized while training for Lakefront last year that I actually (gasp) enjoyed doing the really long training runs. It hadn't always been that way. I'd say for my first three marathons I put in the long runs because I enjoyed the marathon itself and that is what I needed to do in order to succeed in it. Somehow the fact that I actually enjoy running distances that make most people cringe without the benefit of crowds or aid stations made me feel that much more like a seasoned distance runner. Of course, this path has been the setting for some spectacularly bad training runs as well. But, I truly think that the really bad, tough runs are just as important to your overall training as the ones where you feel like a rock star anyway.

My long run path starts about a quarter mile from my house and stretches out into rural Wisconsin, winding past farms and fields. It's gravel and I love the 'crunch crunch' that it makes with each footfall. (Wasn't I the one who didn't think I was so sentimental or philosophical about running?) It doesn't have to be only for long runs, but I tend to reserve it for these. This is partially because I just have it tagged as such and partially because I don't think it'd be too safe in the dark and I tend to do a lot of my weeknight running in the dark.

I have many landmarks along the route that I know and expect. One really stands out. It's a tree that sits about 2.5 miles into the run. I've wanted to get a picture of it for a long time and I finally did so this week. A fair amount of my running route is at least partially wooded, so why does this one stand out? Well, there are a few reasons. First, on the way out, it appears suddenly after I run around a bend in the path. The way it appears is just how I imagine it would be in a movie. (I really apologize for my sappiness today. Next time I'll rant about something, I promise). Second, it stands basically alone in the middle of a field. And third, it's so perfectly shaped. It's the archetype of a tree without looking fake. I pass it just as I'm getting settled in for a nice long run and signals to me that there's only 2.5 miles left in that 20 miler. I always look forward to seeing it.

Here it is....And a random countryside picture:

This path is actually a snowmobiling path in the winter. It's important to know which way the tavern is:

The only negative to this path is the birds that are out in full force right now. I'm not sure what kind they are. They are relatively small and black with a bit of red-orange and white at the wings. I'm not sure if they have babies right now that they are protecting, but they don't like me entering their territory. They sit on the fence posts and when I run by, they fly off and kind of hover behind me. It's pretty creepy, but I've gotten used to it. The really aggressive ones swoop down close to my head. That is always frightening!

So that's where I bang out the long runs!

Happy Running!

Jen

Inspirational Reading!

Hello!

I had been wanting to get a running related book to kind of pump me up for the marathon. I didn't want a book focused on training because that's basically all in the books for this one. I was looking for something that would get me focused on the race and excited for it. I found a few that could have fit the bill, including Duel in the Sun and a collection of essays from Runner's World. In the end, however, I decided to go with that running cult classic, Once a Runner.


This is a pretty popular book in the running world, but I have never read it. Partially this is because I haven't really read many running related books. Also, the book was out of print for a number of years and it was very difficult to get your hands on a copy. They were selling for crazy prices on Ebay and our local library's copy was "Permanently Missing" (aka stolen and sold on Ebay for a crazy price). It is back in print now so I'm happy to take advantage. I'll do a book review when I'm finished. I'll need to be starting it soon, but I'm about 80 pages from the end of another book right now (The Other Queen) and I kind of want to finish that one up first. Luckily (luckily?) the trip to the marathon will be quite long so I guess I'll have some reading time in the car.

Happy Running!

Jen