Blog of a Middle Aged Athlete

I love quotes.  I don’t know why, I just do.  So when my wife sent a bunch of running quotes to me, I had to post them.  Here they are.  By the way, I never thought I’d like Oprah, but she posted an excellent quote.

• A lot of people run a race to see who’s fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.- Steve Prefontaine, International Track Star 
• Believe you can do it. Think no other way but “Yes you can.” - Paul Reese, Ultramarathon Pioneer   
• Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.- Oprah Winfrey, Big Time Talk Show Host 
• The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.- John Bingham, Running Guru 
• Run hard, be strong, think big!- Percy Cerutty, World Renowned Coach 
• Tough times don’t last but tough people do.- A.C. Green, Record-Holding NBA Basketball Star
• I have met my hero, and he is me.- George Sheehan, Famous Running Author 
• Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.Pain is temporary, pride is forever.Spirit … has fifty times the strength and staying power of brawn and muscle.- Mark Twain 
• You must do the thing you think you cannot do. - Eleanor Roosevelt, U.S. Diplomat & Reformer

Although I haven’t actually signed up for it yet, it looks like the San Francisco Marathon is going to be my next event.  Now, how in the heck to you train for a marathon during the hot months of a Texas summer?  As the temperatures have increased during the last few weeks, my runs have been tough.  Really tough.  After my 10 mile long run this weekend, I told my wife it felt like a 20 miler.  My energy was sapped and I was having trouble finishing.

Surely, others have done this, so I let my fingers do the walking and scoured the internet.  Below are the tips I found.

 1.  Hydrate like crazy.  Seems like 4-8 oz. every 15 minutes is the recommended amount.  During my neighborhood runs, where there are no water stops along the routes, I will probably start running with a water bottle.  I don’t like to wear a belt or anything, so I will probably just carry one with me.  Alternatively, I will stash a little cooler on my porch with fluids so I can stop by and replenish.

2.  Wear light colored clothing, and avoid cotton.  I try to do this as much as possible.  Maybe I’ll grab a few more white shirts, or run without a shirt at all.  Obviously sunscreen is a must.

3.  Eat salty foods.  Mmmmmm.  I love pretzels.

4.  Run very early, or very late.  Early morning runs are cooler, but usually more humid.  Late runs are warmer, but less humid.  Pick your poison!  Once school is out and mornings aren’t spent rushing the kiddos out the door, the early morning run will be much easier to do.

5.  Slow down!  This is the tough one for me.  I know what pace I trained at during the late winter and early spring, so I want to keep getting faster.  I need to get it through my thick skull that I am going to run slower.

Every article I read mentioned that the body gets used to the heat in about 2 weeks.  I’m still waiting!

Who do you run with?  It recently occurred to me that even though I never considered my family a running family (athletic, yes, running, no), we “run” together all the time.  Let me explain.

1.  Just before the marathon last month, my brother told me one of his race secrets.  He imagines himself running with a deceased member of our family.  Imagine running a mile with a great grandfather or a grandmother.  What would you talk about?  How would the conversation go?

2.  Yesterday, something very cool happened.  I ran the first 4 miles of my long run with my oldest daughter (almost 8 years old) pedaling beside me on her bike.  We rode through the neighborhood, chatting about nothing in particular, just enjoying our time together.  I told her about halfway through that I couldn’t wait until we both ran together.  Of course, she responded with “I don’t like running,” which I suppose is OK with me as long as I can keep up with her on her bike.

3.  Also last week, my brother and I had our mother fit for a real pair of running shoes.  I purchased a mp3 player for her a few months ago, and while she was in town (she lives in Arizona), I showed her how to download podcasts to it.  We agreed that she will start blogging her running regimen, so I can see how she is doing.   Even though we are geographically many miles apart, and we run at very different paces, we can “virtually” share our experiences and have conversations.  It occurred to me that what I am trying to do is run with her.

4.  I think I have picked another marathon!  The San Francisco marathon is at the end of July, and should make a nice little trip.  My wife and I have decided to make it an anniversary event, where she will run the half marathon and I will run the full.  More family running!