First Race

So I had hemorrhoid surgery 10 days before the race. Three days before that I strained my groin muscle. I didn't feel the groin muscle soreness until half way through the race. I thought I might just walk the walk run, but when the time came, I ran. I was hoping to stay near Cori, but the excitement at the beginning I took off. We connected a bit later when I was walking, but then I felt the urge to run and she didn't so we parted. She said she saw me and even waved when I looked back, but I never saw her.

I haven't run in quite a while, since before my sons were born, and William is 10. So I'm starting back and I'm very confident that if I put in the work I will shatter my time next year. I was proud to just be running. There's a part of me that thinks like myself in my 30's, 20's, my high school running self. Those guys are dead. Part of running for me is losing that harsh critic. Like the fact that it doesn't look like my feet are off the ground mid stride.









The start was exciting and people were out cheering everyone on, and there was a nice community spirit.






It was a fun thing to do with Cori. You can see some of the pictures I posted of her. And she's there is the above shot next to me in the fuchsia hoodie, with the hood up.

My time was 50:52. That's 12:43 mile average. I'm glad I don't have data about my past running to compare it.

setbacks

I strained my groin playing soccer with my son, and then I had surgery to remove a hemorrhoid. I'm taking vicodin and tylenol for the pain from the surgery. I can feel my fitness wasting away. Nine more days until the race.

race in 2 weeks

I started this blog in February, and it's November that I'm getting around to a second run. And I signed up for a 4 mile race in 2 weeks! My girlfriend went with me, and she's excited too.

Reading over my goals they seem good. Trying to accept my 47 year old body for where it is at is also a good idea. The point is to be active. We went running out in the rain. Rain don't stop me.

I showed my girlfriend all my running books in case she wants to read them. Maybe I'll read them again.

I'm going to watch Without Limits (1998) tonight. I've put Chariots Of Fire on my Netflix queue. 

blog genisis

I ran cross country in high school, and I've run 3 marathons 1983, 1993 and 2001. The year is 2014 and I'm out of shape.

I'm 47 and I just went for a 15 minute walk and run. I'm out of shape, overweight, inflexible. Time to turn this rig around.

Goals:
Get racing stats from 30's running from ex's computer.
Be able to run 30 minutes without walking.
Enter and run a 5k.
Enter and run a 10K.
Enter and run a 10 miler.
Enter and run a half marathon.
Then work to get those times down in the 5K and 10K.
Run a race with my sons.
Run a race with my girlfriend.
Run a race with my cousins.

Motivation: I love being connected to my body, as imperfect as it is. I want to live as long as I can to be there for my sons, and cardio is important. I'm not going to go nutso, and I'm not running any more marathons. But I am going to run shorter races.

Non-judgmentalism: The greatest feat of my running life was to win the JV conference race in Wisconsin in 1984. I don't run to win. I run for the process. Most people can't say they've run 3 marathons. It's all perspective. We live in a competitive society. I'm going to use races to bring out the best in me.

Running is like meditation. I have thoughts I would only have when I run. There are monks who run as a form of meditation.

I've read so many books on running. I like running. I like to think, talk and write about running.