Rest and Relaxation

I started running marathons at either or 38 or 39 and weighed about 140. Here at near 58 and about 24 marathons later I weigh close to 180. My personal best back then was 3:20 at Kiawah and my personal best since 50 (and gaining all that weight) is 4:19 at Myrtle Beach. The weight gain is mainly due to my metabolism changing with age than a dramatic drop in training. There were a few years I didn't run marathons but kept up my training on a 10k basis. I like the neighborhood runs and usually run a 8k, 5k and 10k throughout the year. Part of me wants to go out and run today after my longest training run in a while of 14 miles yesterday. I'm not sore but I am stiff and really need to rest and let my body adjust. I'm doing a lot more tempos at 6 miles and will start doing some at 8 miles this week. These plus the long runs will help knock off some weight before the marathon. Carrying 10 extra pounds for 26 miles is something I want to avoid.

Even though I'm a good deal slower, I feel I'm running a lot smarter marathons these days. They are more gratifying. The marathon is not a run for the 'quick fix' hotdogs that like to look good leading the pack at the start of the race. I know all about that game after having to fight and, ultimately lose, my battle with alcoholism. Addiction is not about delayed gratification and spiritual growth and is quite the opposite! So part of my training was to overcome my 20 year addiction to the 'quick fix.' My cousin described addiction as 'following the path of least resistence.' Like many, I've gone out too fast and died at 16-20 miles and had to do a lot of walking while the smarter 'slow-burn' delayed gratifiers stream past me. I am now becoming one of those by starting out the first half using negative splits and speeding up in the 2nd half. I always meet my race pace and better that way - except for Grandfather Mountain where I had to start walking at 23 and finished in a little over 5 hours. I feel long distance running has taught me to be more patient and disciplined in my life and to set realistic goals.

toadshade