Less The One Month to Go

The next two weeks represent a critical time in my training. In two weeks I'm going to do another long run with my Dad, which will (hopefully) be the longest run I do, and (definitely) be the last long run before beginning the two week taper to race day on July 10th. Last night I sat down and laid down my plan for the next four weeks. Here is what the end of my serious training looks like:

M June 14 10 miles (pm)

T June 15 10 miles (am)

10 miles (pm)

W June 16 10 miles (am)

Th June 17 X

F June 18 2 hr. easy run

S June 19 X

S June 20 10 miles (pm)

M June 21 10 miles (pm)

T June 22 10 miles (am)

W June 23 X

Th June 24 10 miles (am)

F June 25 X

S June 26 3.5-4.0 hour (20-25 miles)

It is going to be intense, especially if I'm able to stick with every run that I've laid out here. The next three days could be the some of the hardest of the entire training. 40 miles within 36 hours. Am I looking forward to this? I'm looking forward to seeing if I can do it. Caryn's cousin Chris might be joining me on my Tuesday evening run, which would make things a little easier, but even company will not make this exactly easy. If I can get through the next three days, I'm going to feel much more confident going into race day.

I've been thinking about running a lot lately. (More than normal.) I am developing the theory that there are three levels of running. The first level is where running is work. This is what non-runners think of when they think of running. This is a required right-of-passage for all runners. When you are at this level, when you run, all you think about is not stopping. You are aware of your body, of the effort that each step is requiring of you. You think about how much you're sweating and how much people are judging you as you run by them. A the end of this kind of run, your brain has gotten as much of a work-out as your body. You feel exhausted both mentally and physically.

The next level comes after you have been running for awhile, likely about a year. It is running as stress release. After you have established a base level of fitness and you are able to be out on the roads for about 45 minutes, you may find that your mind is less occupied with thoughts of your run. Your mind will be free to think about whatever you want. This is the stage when solutions to problems present themselves to you. You may have been mentally stuck all day with a problem at work, but on one of these type of runs, the answer can appear, fully formed and so obvious that you feel stupid for not seeing it.

The finally level of running comes only after passing through the other two. (And, in fact, all the levels exist in every run.) And this is running as peaceful and easy. Call it effortless, call it zen, call it the runner's high. What you call it isn't important. On a run like this, you aren't thinking about the effort that it takes to move. You aren't trying to solve your work problems. You don't think about your kids, your weekend projects, you don't think about your pace or how much further you have to run. You don't think about anything. You run in the moment. There is only each next step and that is enough to fill you with a sense of peace and contentment.

I'm sure there are parallels to these stages in learning to play the piano, paint, read, write, sing, fly a plane, cook, make love, juggle, drive a car, or anything else that makes life challenging but rich. And it isn't as if I am claiming that every time I go out running I enter a trace where I can run forever. I don't. Honestly, most of the time when I run it's in the second type. On a bad day it will be a lot of work. But on a good day, I'll end my run feeling stronger and refreshed, both mentally and physically.