Spring has Sprung?

In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. -- Mark Twain

I believe in process.  I believe in four seasons.  I believe that winter's tough, but spring's coming.  I believe that there's a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow.  You get better. -- Steve Southerland

Just when I was starting to plot the various ways I could take revenge on the treadmills at the YMCA...and believe me, in my many hours, I have flitted around to a number of them (in order to adhere to the letter, if not the spirit, of the one-hour time limit)...anyway, thoughts of producing mechanical harm were looming large in my mind when the sun came out.  And the world became a better place.  [Note - no exercise equipment was harmed in the making of this blog; thoughts are not actions, regardless of how vivid.]

And to make up for my machine-related murderous thoughts, I give you a little bit of Cat Stevens and some peace...when spring came out this weekend, all I could think was:

Morning has broken like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning

Praise for them springing fresh from the Word

Of course, my mood, like the weather in spring, is rather variable.  After running my last long run in the sunshine, feeling the heat on my face and enjoying the fact I wasn't bundled to the hilt, I got irritated because it's taper week, so I don't get to make full use of this beautiful week of weather that we're having. :(  And then, on Saturday, for my marathon, there's every chance of rain.  Pffft.  Spring.

Anyway, I'm excited about the marathon, in part because I'm anxious to see what I can do.  I know with the lack of training due to weather & building up slowly that it's going to be a struggle - so a lot of the race will be in my head - but heck, that should be good IM training, right?  Also, I'll be happy to get back to triathlon training.  I almost, kinda, sorta, a little bit, miss my bike.  Plus I'm curious to get Miss Daisy out on the road (the road bike I got after my stress fracture at IM LOU).  Yeah - I named her Miss Daisy - you want to make something of it?  I was going to name her Mint Car, but figured the reference would be lost on too many.

But maybe the words are just too perfect...rethinking the bike's name.

The sun is up
I'm so happy I could scream!
And there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be
Than here with you
It's perfect

It's all I ever wanted

I almost can't believe that it's for real!

Spring on, everyone.  Spring on.

What's a Little Snow?

Marathon running, like golf, is a game for players, not winners.  That is why Callaway sells golf clubs and Nike sells running shoes.  But running is unique in that the world's best racers are on the same course, at the same time, as amateurs, who would have as much chance of winning as your average weekend warrior would scoring a touchdown in the NFL. -- Hunter S. Thomson

OK - I get it - the quote and the title of this post have nothing to do with each other.  I love the quote.  And I am running a marathon in 8 days.  EIGHT FREAKIN' DAYS.  And I'm not ready for it...but it will be OK.

And if it was just a little snow, I'd be fine.  But it hasn't been a little snow.  It's been three weeks of utter stupidity here in central Virginia.  Usually our snow melts.  It hasn't.  Usually the snow is gone before we get more snow.  It didn't.  Usually my kids go to school in February and March.  They aren't.  Today we are on snow day # 10.  Yes, I said TEN.

Because of the snow and the snow days and everything else, I have done most of my long runs for next weekend's marathon on a treadmill.  And that is just suckitude.  On the other hand, you could say it is really good training for the mental drama involved in running a marathon.  And I would say PFFFT.  I'm so over the treadmill.  I want outside and I want it now.  It's actually supposed to be spring-like next week, so that should be good for the race and all, but it won't make up for all of those weekends on the treadmill...and how unprepared I feel because of it.

I like marathons - I do - but the real problem is when.  There's no such thing as a summer marathon in central Virginia.  But spring means you train in the snow.  And fall interferes with (or means less training because of) triathlons.  I'm signed up for OBX marathon in November, but that's mostly because I deferred it after the stress fracture at IMLOU.  I don't think I would normally sign up for one a month after an Ironman.  So when do I get to do a marathon that doesn't suck?  Maybe if I drop out of long course tris for a while, but I don't want to do that either.  Just can't win.

Rhythm & Blues

I've always found a cure for the blues is wandering into something unknown, and resting there, before coming back to whatever weight you were carrying. -- Diane Sawyer

I put a limited time on the blues.  I say "I allowed myself to be blue for four hours, and now I'm going to stop." -- Teri Hatcher

For the last couple of weeks, my rhythm has been all messed up and it has given me the serious blues.  First I got a little sick, then I traveled, then I got sicker, then I got better but busy, and then all hell broke loose when the snow fell earlier this week, and now my rhythm is off with snow days and shifting workouts around 'cause nobody is going out for a run in this:

And even with the snow cleared, there's a layer of ice underneath that I'm far too clumsy to run on.   And after spending almost 3 hours on the treadmill this past weekend, I'm kind of over it.  I guess that's why they call it the blues.

That being said, it's time for me to put a time limit on the blues and shake off this funk.  (Not an Uptown Funk - because I HATE that song...)  Anyway, I'm trying to get my head around the fact that it's winter and it stinks and I should embrace it.  And not have the blues.  And it is what it is, so suck it up, buttercup.

Next time you see me...things won't be the same (and this is some real blues, folks...forget Elton, the Chicago blues are the real deal)...

Slumping

Get up, groan, write a bit, moan, eat breakfast, write some more, cycle my bike through the Sligo hills, make up country songs as I pedal along, sing them, have lunch, have a nap, groan, moan, write a small bit more, cook dinner, feed wifey, open a bottle or several, slump, sleep. -- Kevin Barry

So it appears I'm in a bit of a slump.  IronSherpa says so.  And I guess I kind of feel it.  My workouts feel hard.  I'm not happy with my performance.  I think (hope?) it's because I'm just not back to where I was and I wanted to comeback faster but I was unrealistic.  Plus I'm swimming up a lane, so it's hard to feel confident when you're getting lapped...I don't like feeling like I hold up my lane, but I'm still swimming more/faster than the lane back, so the coach keeps reassuring me I'm in the right spot and that soon I will keep up if I keep doing the work, but it's not really registering right now.

I realize that this is probably my 2nd or 3rd complainy whiny moany post in a row, which is why it's important for me to put it out there.  I should be embarrassed that I'm so slumpy.  So I decided to find a song to pep me up...there are some seriously weird people out there, but this song (Float On by Modest Mouse) comes highly recommended...I had remembered hearing it on the radio but never viewing it as a pep song, but now that I've seen the words and watched the totally bizarre video that forces you to smile, well, I'm all in.

Bad news comes, don't you worry even when it lands,

Good news will work its way to all them plans...

Well we'll float on, good news is on the way

And we'll all float on OK

And we'll all float on OK...

SMILE.  And stop slumping!

Joy and Pain, Sunshine and Rain

I ran my fastest marathon in the rain. -- Bill Rodgers

I can tell you, folks, I am no Bill Rodgers.  For so many reasons, but in particular, because rain does not make me particularly fast.  Or happy.

On Sunday I ran the Frostbite 15K - yeah, it's a weird distance and a weird race.  I've run it the last two years and both times it was cold (once unpleasantly so), but usually sunny and dry.  Well, not this past weekend.  Instead, it was cold (unpleasantly so) and a monsoon, which is unusual, since we don't usually have monsoons in the midAtlantic.  :)

But before I whine anymore about the weather, let's do a little Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock, right?  Because you know you want to.

OK, now that we all feel better, or at least I do...the race.  Two years ago, I had a bad race, but this was when I was starting to come back from being lazy and sluggish...right before I started this blog and hit the HIM trail.  It took me 1:45.

Last year, I did it in 1:30 and was so excited.  I was absolutely glowing and in love with running.  Looking back, it is a beautiful thing to see...'cause I don't feel that love for running again yet.  And that makes me nervous because I have a marathon coming up in less than two months and I don't want it to suck.  But it also makes me happy because I know that I can come out from under a slump and start to love running and training again.  I just haven't gotten there yet.  YET.

Y'know what?  I don't want to even talk about this year's race.  I hated it.  I dumped a gallon of water out of my running jacket sleeves when I crossed the finish line.  My shoes are still wet almost a week later.  I still can feel a damp chill in my bones.  And I was even slower than two years ago.

But let's focus on the positive.  I've been down before and I got up.  And I can do it again.  So let's move past the Frostbite 15K and think about what's next...

Insane or Dedicated?

A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder. -- Susan Orlean

Yesterday was the first snow day for central Virginia.  Or "snow" day - because looking outside, there wasn't really ever that much on the ground.  It led to a very interesting morning, however, and cemented the fact that I am pretty much insane.  But you knew that already.

I got up at 5 to go to Masters - I knew that it was supposed to be freezing rain and I really wanted to go back to bed, but I looked at Facebook and since Masters hadn't cancelled, I figured it must not be too bad.  Also, the local schools hadn't closed yet...so I guess I should go.  I get all ready, taking my time, and checking (constantly) to see if there were any changes...but no.  So I start packing up the car - and as I'm heading into the garage with load #2 (Wednesdays are busy for me, so I had like 5 bags between swim gear, work clothes, work gear, and lunch), the house phone starts to ring...I grab it so the family is less disturbed AT 5:17 IN THE MORNING.  Two-hour delay for the local schools.  OK.  Fine.  Check Masters one more time.  No notice.  So I go.

It's slick getting out of my neighborhood, not so bad on the highways, but my windshield is icing over with the freezing rain.  Turn the defroster all the way up and creep along.  I am going to be late, but whatevs...it's better to be there late and alive, right?  I pull into the parking lot for Masters at 5:55.  Usually the parking lot is full at 5:50...but a lot of it is the high school kids that swim there.  But there are also usually cars where the grown ups park.  And there are NO OTHER CARS.  NONE.  Crap - I just risked life & limb, drove for 40 minutes (which is how long it normally takes...but there was NO ONE on the road but me...so even though I was poking along, there were no lights to stop at and no traffic), and there isn't even Masters?  Are you kidding me?

I park the car, check Facebook again...notice from Masters - its on, the coach is on the way, he'l be there soon.  OK.  And two other cars show up.  Idiots.  Oh, wait - if they're idiots, so am I.  Yeah, that light bulb went off.  When one of the other people goes in, I grab my gear and head in too.  It is so quiet at the pool.  Usually it's abuzz with high school kids and others.  But it's like...spooky it's so quiet.

Anyway - the coach shows up and there are 4 swimmers total.  I didn't want to get in the water, but hell, I was there.  And it turned out to be a great session - since there were only four people there (and 2 of them are great swimmers), the coach spent a lot of time with the other lady in my lane and me.  Basically a private swim lesson and I got a lot of coaching on things I need to work on, especially with body position.  So that was awesome.  Seriously - even though you'll probably hear me whine about how it's so hard to keep all these changes in my head while I'm trying to swim at the same time...but I am really grateful that I got up and went swimming yesterday.

And then I got out of the pool, got ready, went out to my car...and the local schools are completely closed and my job is basically on 2-hour delay.  It's 7:30am and campus doesn't open until 10.  Crap.  Now what - too far to go back home, so I might as well get some breakfast and go to work...

When I related the story of my morning to my friends (triathlete and non-triathlete), the reaction was pretty much the same - you are INSANE!  Yeah, well, one man's insanity is another man's dedication.  :)

And, hey - it was better than spending the day the way a lot of people spent the "snow" day...

(Yeah, I know - it's Bruno Mars...but who can not smile at this song, especially with the backup-dancer monkeys.  Seriously.)

Down for the Count

If I see one more forensics show, I'm gonna throw up.  -- Dean Winters

Or in my case, if I throw up, I'm gonna spend the day on the couch watching forensics shows.  Chicken or the egg?  Who knows.

Anyway, the stomach flu or food poisoning (I'm not a doctor - who knows which) had me down for the count on Monday afternoon and all day yesterday.  More info than you needed, but it did let me catch up on all of the Law & Order (any of the many varieties), Criminal Minds, NCIS, CSI, Bones, etc. More than any human needs to watch in any given month (or year).  Thankfully I'm feeling better today because if I see one more forensics show...

Of course, this little detour in my New Year did have the added benefit of allowing me to drop 4 pounds overnight.  (Not that I'm expecting it will remain off...but it was motivating to see a small number, so that's a good thing right?)  Unfortunately, it threw off my training for the week.  I realized I was sick 2 minutes into a treadmill run on Monday and I'm not doing anything until tomorrow (Thursday), so that's like 3 unplanned days off, which makes me a little twitchy.  I know when you're sick, it's OK to take days off...but I don't like it.

Hopefully I'll be back running tomorrow and able to get my long run in this weekend, because that DC marathon is sneaking up fast and I want to do my best at it (not to mention the 15K and half-mary in between...yikes!).  This year is already moving too fast...I need to get a little faster if I'm going to keep up.