The school is building a bridge over the canyon I finish up my runs at. So for the past week (it was supposed to be open this week but they are running behind schedule). The bridge is really cool, very modern design. I am looking forward to the view from up there and getting back to my full canyon run. So the detour I have to take is all uphill and it is steep. It actually adds nearly a half mile to my run, so that has been good. I have been looking for ways to gradually increase my distance, so this has been good.

As I was running today I was thinking of something I had read about the need to relax the body when running in particular the hands, which in turn would relieve stress on the shoulders and back. This running coach was teaching this concept to his runners by giving them Pringles chips to run with. They were not to eat them! But instead would hold them in their palms when running without crushing them. Since I didn’t have any Pringles I just visualized them in my hands. Works pretty well! For some reason my shoulders have been really sore these last couple of days, so I was hoping this relaxation would help. I is now the afternoon and my shoulders still hurt!

My ms symptoms seem to be coming back a little, I think it has to do with the heat. I had been relatively symptom free, but now I seem to be getting the spells every now and then. I just talked on the phone for about 30 mins and I felt them coming on quite regularly. Still, it is better than before for sure.

And here I come thinking the finish was the parking lot. You can see my friend in the distance, Oh yeah I smoked him! Until he passed me at the finish line that is…

I actually had trouble finishing in my next race too. There was a slot you had to go through at the very end where they marked your time and took your picture. I was neck and neck with another runner, at the very end I pealed off because we couldn’t both fit through the slot. I should have elbowed her!

And here I come thinking the finish was the parking lot. You can see my friend in the distance, Oh yeah I smoked him! Until he passed me at the finish line that is…

I actually had trouble finishing in my next race too. There was a slot you had to go through at the very end where they marked your time and took your picture. I was neck and neck with another runner, at the very end I pealed off because we couldn’t both fit through the slot. I should have elbowed her!

This is the desert outside of Winslow. You are looking west from Homolovi State Park. I think those ar ethe San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff in the distance. If you look real heard you will see an orange blob trying to outpace his new found running friend.

This is the desert outside of Winslow. You are looking west from Homolovi State Park. I think those ar ethe San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff in the distance. If you look real heard you will see an orange blob trying to outpace his new found running friend.

I took a couple of days off around the fourth, but hit the asphalt again today putting in 9+ miles. It was a pretty casual long run and I didn’t push it. I am wanting to start doping some speed work to get faster and almost considered going to the track before I met my running partner for the last of the run. But I decided I shouldn’t mix the speed work with a long distance run, so there you have it.

I am looking forward to running at the track again, I haven’t done in a year or so. The surface is great, but the whole thing gets to be somewhat boring when you are putting in the miles. I used to start on the outside lane and move in one lane every lap. Once I was at the innermost lane I would reverse my lane switches. Pretty exciting stuff!

Some rules of the track:
Always run in a counterclockwise direction.

Think of the track as your local highway: The fastest lane is to the left. Lane numbering starts at the innermost lane and goes up to 8 or 9 lanes. Lanes 1 and 2 are reserved for the fastest runners. Lanes 3 through 5 are generally for moderately fast runners, and the outermost lanes are for slow joggers, walkers or runners doing their warm-up or cool-down routines.

If a faster runner comes up behind you and wants to pass, they will say, “track.” This is your cue to move to the right.

When passing someone, always give plenty of warning time. Say, “track,” wait for them to move over, and continue in your lane.

Never stand on the track, especially in lanes 1 or 2. Always look both ways before crossing the track.

Always be aware of nearby runners. When you finish an interval, look over your shoulder and move to the right as you stop. If you move left you are more likely to get run over by another runner.

Don’t use headphones. Your iPod is for non-track days.

If the track is not busy, it’s usually acceptable to do warm-up drills in the outermost lanes. Often this means you will be running back and forth on one straightaway. This is the only time it’s OK to run in a clockwise direction. When in doubt, do your drills on the infield.

Don’t allow pets or children to run freely on the track.

I have seen many of these broken continuously. For instance I have never had anyone move over if I yell “track” seems like the casual track user doesn’t know what this means. I just about always run with headphones, got to stay awake somehow. But I make up for this infraction by being aware of other runners on the track, especially the faster ones.

I took a couple of days off around the fourth, but hit the asphalt again today putting in 9+ miles. It was a pretty casual long run and I didn’t push it. I am wanting to start doping some speed work to get faster and almost considered going to the track before I met my running partner for the last of the run. But I decided I shouldn’t mix the speed work with a long distance run, so there you have it.

I am looking forward to running at the track again, I haven’t done in a year or so. The surface is great, but the whole thing gets to be somewhat boring when you are putting in the miles. I used to start on the outside lane and move in one lane every lap. Once I was at the innermost lane I would reverse my lane switches. Pretty exciting stuff!

Some rules of the track:
Always run in a counterclockwise direction.

Think of the track as your local highway: The fastest lane is to the left. Lane numbering starts at the innermost lane and goes up to 8 or 9 lanes. Lanes 1 and 2 are reserved for the fastest runners. Lanes 3 through 5 are generally for moderately fast runners, and the outermost lanes are for slow joggers, walkers or runners doing their warm-up or cool-down routines.

If a faster runner comes up behind you and wants to pass, they will say, “track.” This is your cue to move to the right.

When passing someone, always give plenty of warning time. Say, “track,” wait for them to move over, and continue in your lane.

Never stand on the track, especially in lanes 1 or 2. Always look both ways before crossing the track.

Always be aware of nearby runners. When you finish an interval, look over your shoulder and move to the right as you stop. If you move left you are more likely to get run over by another runner.

Don’t use headphones. Your iPod is for non-track days.

If the track is not busy, it’s usually acceptable to do warm-up drills in the outermost lanes. Often this means you will be running back and forth on one straightaway. This is the only time it’s OK to run in a clockwise direction. When in doubt, do your drills on the infield.

Don’t allow pets or children to run freely on the track.

I have seen many of these broken continuously. For instance I have never had anyone move over if I yell “track” seems like the casual track user doesn’t know what this means. I just about always run with headphones, got to stay awake somehow. But I make up for this infraction by being aware of other runners on the track, especially the faster ones.

Well the end of my week has been really bust, but the begging started out slow. I am not sure why I haven’t gotten around to writing, but I haven’t until now. I have done three 8+ mile runs this week, all of which I experienced little to no spells. Now today I over did it. I didn’t run a lick but copied and pasted a bunch of stuff for a large job. My brain feels like mush and I am looking forward to bed. I have a run planned tomorrow morning, first one with my running partner in weeks. My mileage plan is to keep things around 30. I only have five to go which should work out well for tomorrow and then a rest day on Sunday. This will work out perfectly as it is supposed to be 90 on Sunday.

So I have been thinking a lot about something Red said in her comment :I never knew running could be so complicated.” Running is actually very simple. But I think those of us who do distance (and my 8+ miles can barely even be called “distance” comparatively) get really bored when we are running. Making running complicated gives us something to do. The trick is to keep your natural gate while making things complicated. I have found myself over thinking a technique and forcing my body to do whatever it is, not a good thing.

In addition to trying to make things interesting, I also find running to be very meditative. I just finished a book on Buddhism and the practice of zazen or meditation. The idea of zazen is to release your mind of all thought by quietly sitting still facing a wall. While one obviously can’t do that running, I often find myself flushing my mind of all thought including my Ipod. I find myself loosing my thoughts in my environment, quietly watching for uplifted sidewalks and oncoming cars. It is at these times that I focus on my breathing and gate and also visualizing cotton between my joints and loosening my muscles. Many of these ideas are from Chi Running, but I also incorporate the yoga and meditation I have done throughout my life. I empty my mind (except for the part watching for dangers!) and just float along, many times feeling and experiencing the parts of my body that hurt. Many times I find the time just flying by. Keeps the boredom down.

By the way I wanted to write down my favorite running cds:
Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads and the soundtrack to Run Lola Run. RLR has a gerat song that has hard breathing in the background that always pushes my step. SMS has a beat that is right in time with my breathing and step. I love it.

Well the end of my week has been really bust, but the begging started out slow. I am not sure why I haven’t gotten around to writing, but I haven’t until now. I have done three 8+ mile runs this week, all of which I experienced little to no spells. Now today I over did it. I didn’t run a lick but copied and pasted a bunch of stuff for a large job. My brain feels like mush and I am looking forward to bed. I have a run planned tomorrow morning, first one with my running partner in weeks. My mileage plan is to keep things around 30. I only have five to go which should work out well for tomorrow and then a rest day on Sunday. This will work out perfectly as it is supposed to be 90 on Sunday.

So I have been thinking a lot about something Red said in her comment :I never knew running could be so complicated.” Running is actually very simple. But I think those of us who do distance (and my 8+ miles can barely even be called “distance” comparatively) get really bored when we are running. Making running complicated gives us something to do. The trick is to keep your natural gate while making things complicated. I have found myself over thinking a technique and forcing my body to do whatever it is, not a good thing.

In addition to trying to make things interesting, I also find running to be very meditative. I just finished a book on Buddhism and the practice of zazen or meditation. The idea of zazen is to release your mind of all thought by quietly sitting still facing a wall. While one obviously can’t do that running, I often find myself flushing my mind of all thought including my Ipod. I find myself loosing my thoughts in my environment, quietly watching for uplifted sidewalks and oncoming cars. It is at these times that I focus on my breathing and gate and also visualizing cotton between my joints and loosening my muscles. Many of these ideas are from Chi Running, but I also incorporate the yoga and meditation I have done throughout my life. I empty my mind (except for the part watching for dangers!) and just float along, many times feeling and experiencing the parts of my body that hurt. Many times I find the time just flying by. Keeps the boredom down.

By the way I wanted to write down my favorite running cds:
Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads and the soundtrack to Run Lola Run. RLR has a gerat song that has hard breathing in the background that always pushes my step. SMS has a beat that is right in time with my breathing and step. I love it.

Today was one of the all important rest days. I really feel like I need it. Today the spells seem to be rather strong, even Ruthann said something. While I know I have been pushing it in terms of how many miles I am doing, I think that is ok. The exertion may be exaggerating some of the symptoms (ie more spells) I am hoping that I see a decrease in the fatigue and spells as I keep up the pace. We’ll see, I may have a definite cap on the amount of energy I can put into running, but I am not going to just accept that. I will learn that though and if that is the deal, then that’s the deal.

I saw Terri Garr on David Letterman last night, she looks like she is having trouble with her ms. She also had an annurism last year and I think that was a lot of the cause of her troubles moving. Then again it could just be ms. She was in very good spirits, almost too good like she was trying too hard to show everything is ok. I’ll have to watch for that. Also be wary of the dumb ms jokes.