Monday, November 23, 2009

Stop Thief! Come back with my dedication!

This is the 3rd time I have started writing this posting in over a month. I have a hard time writing about my running when I am not happy with my commitment level of running. I obviously need a running partner. I am having a difficult time holding myself accountable to get my ass out of bed and go running. I have been averaging three runs per week for the last two weeks. I went two weeks without running at all, before that. My upcoming trip to the Walt Disney World Marathon is going to be hard for me.



Very Hard...

My goal for this blog is to accomplish three things:
1. Entertain you, the reader.
2. Motivate you, the reader, to get out and run.
3. Motivate me to get out and run.

I apologize about this one in advance. This one is all about number three. I am in need of some motivation.



11/13/09 I grew up in Seattle. Of the 40 years I lived there, the year I lived in a warehouse loft downtown next to the Kingdome was my favorite. I now live in downtown Phoenix. What can I say... I like the night life baby... so the song says.

When I got the chance to watch the world series a few weeks ago in a bar in the upper east side of Manhattan, I took it. When it was over, and the bastard Yankees had won the final game, I went to Times Square and celebrated like I was one of them. What do you care about this? Not much, except I was supposed to get up the next morning and go running in Central Park.

It didn't happen.

If you would have asked me before hand, If I had to choose between running in Central Park or whooping it up in Time Square, I don't know which one I would have chosen. But, as they say, hind site is 20/20.

A few nights later, when I got the chance to check out the Irish Pubs of Downtown Boston- have you ever been to Boston?- again, not much of a contest. The next morning when my wake up call came and I was supposed to go running along the beautiful waterfront (think Boston Tea Party), I instead called the front desk and asked them to give me another call in an hour.



The same story played out the night I had the chance to go to Newport, Staten island, and Philadelphia. Long story short, I was on the road for 12 days... and I didn't run once. Not to mention i have put on about 10 pounds in about 30 days...

If you are the type of person where sticking to an exercise program is difficult, like I am, well, every day you put off starting up again, you are one day closer to never doing it again. This is the stuff that was going through my head on the flight back to Phoenix. I had eight ours of travel time to stress about what I had just done to my marathon training. I have been training for the Walt Disney World Marathon for 6 months. Could I have ruined my chances in just two weeks?

When I landed in Phoenix, I had a 2 1/2 hour drive up to Prescott where my wife was working for a couple of weeks. Just what I need. Two more hours to do nothing but stress out about my long run the next morning. I haven't run in two weeks, and I am supposed to do 14 miles the next morning. 14 miles. That is longer than I have ever run. I am in panic mode. What does missing that much of your training do to your abilities? This is all new to me. I have no idea...

As I started to get close to Prescott, I realized a couple things. One is that it is well over 3000 feet in elevation. And the other is that there is not one single block that is flat. There is no way I am going to find somewhere that I can run 14 miles up here that isn't constantly up and down hills.

12/3/09 That was two weeks ago. The next morning I ran laps around the Mall in Prescott, the only flat area I could find. Sears, Pennies, Dillard's, Barnes and Noble, Michael's, Bed Bath and Beyond. Sears, Pennies, Dillard's, Barnes and Noble, Michael's, Bed Bath and Beyond.

Lap after lap after lap.

Every single time I got to Pennies, I would look off to my left across the parking lot at my car. It was everything I could do to keep going instead of turning to my car and giving up. After about 13 laps, I did just that. I gave up. I had run just over 6 miles.

I ran 4 miles the following Wednesday. Three days later, I got up and went to my Saturday Morning Running Group for my weekly long run. We were scheduled to go 16 miles. I had run a total of 10 miles in three weeks, and was about to try and run 16 miles.

I usually run alone on these runs. I know that the whole point of running with a group is so that you don't have to run alone. I don't know, there just isn't anyone there that runs my pace, and I always want to try to run at my goal marathon pace during my long runs. My pace is not fast, it is just my pace. But that morning I asked a few of the people that I knew ran together as a group, if i could run with them.

It was a long 16 miles, but thanks the Harvey and Chelsea, I finished. It was good to run with a group. The next weekend my long run was supposed to be 12 miles. I did not run with the group. I ran on my own. I ran 9 1/2.

Day after tomorrow, I am supposed to run 18 miles. There are two things I know. Number one, I need to run with people. I can't depend on myself to get out there without motivation. Number two, my race in January is going to be hard. Very hard.

Again, I apologize for this one. I apologize for being a slacker with both my running, and my writing. I will try to be funnier with the next one. Wish me luck.

9 comments:

  1. I have faith that you can do it.- Em

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  2. Adam, ten years ago I was a svelt 125 pounds, lean, cut, and hot. That was after doing the Body for Life program for 12 weeks. Now I weigh 160 pounds and am a big pile of goo. You too can look just like me if you quit running.

    Love,

    Your fat sister,

    Carolyn

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  3. I struggle with the same motivational issues...and i just signed up to run a my first marathon in may - eek! if i'm tired after work and supposed to run, laying in bed watching tv always wins that battle! :-/

    having a group to run with would do wonders - try to get out and run with them as much as you can :) good luck! you can do it!

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  4. Ladies, thanks to all 3 of you. Sis, you're not a pile of goo:) Andrea, that is a lot of the battle. I am a fan of escapism. T.V. wins more often that I care to admit. The warm pillow and the snooze button are my bigger enemy. Tomorrow morning I run with my group. I will go. I will finish. I will be sore. But I will NOT be lazy... What marathon are you signed up for? - Adam Dopps

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  5. you have the same issues i have. i too have been a total slacker when it comes to miles and training for disney. i do not know if this is your 1st or what - but the adrenaline and crowd will 100% get you though. You're gonna hurt, but you will cross that finish line. I am happy to know that I am not the only one who has been a slack ass though!! you and i can crawl together. deal?!

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  6. I didn't run for 2 weeks either... being away from home and up in the mountains... and cold weather (what??) and a trip to the e.r.... anyway, I will be running 9 miles tomorrow and I don't want to. But I will because I have people that I run with. One in particular that I run with all the time because we motivate each other. And I like her so I would feel bad to leave her by herself for a run when she is depending on me. So if you need a virtual running partner, you can count on me. I am not close by so I can't get out there with you but you can let me know when you are going and let me know when you are done and I will cheer you on. And I will be there when you cross that finish line next month... because you will certainly do it. You already did a half marathon and you did it well. 36 days, my friend. You can do it! :-)

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  7. Barbie, I'm not sure, but I think I just got called a slack ass... :) Almost as good as my Aunt just callin me lazy... I agree, at this point, I think I have put, and am putting, in the miles to finish. I just think that I have realizes that I won't be able to reach my 4 hour goal, and it's a little depressing. What pace will you be running at Disney?

    Lucy, I am on my way out the door shortly for my 18 mile run. Again the longest I have ever done. My running has been much tougher without Jane going with me. I don't know if that is a reason or an excuse. I can use a virtual partner, and am very happy you will be there in January to cheer me on. I will be waiting for your virtual high five in about 3 hours and 50 minutes...

    Thanks to both of you!-Adam

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  8. I have a tendency toward couch potatoism myself. Sometimes I have to go in steps and only think about the next step. Example: If I get out of bed I get to sit and drink coffee. If I put on my running clothes I can have another cup of coffee. In the meantime I'm reading all my running Tweeps who are getting out and running. Next I'll go on outside and if I feel like walking I can. Then I, of course, run and am always glad I did. :)

    Long runs are another story. They are difficult. No doubt about it. You sound like a social guy and I bet you'll do much better with your training group and also if you can get a training buddy for your weekly runs. Plus it'll make it more fun.

    Good luck. Eye on the prize. You'll get there!

    -reluctntrunner

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  9. Good luck on your 18 miler! I agree with the above comment- just keep your eye on the prize. You will get there. With long runs, don't try to think too hard about it. Just get out there and take it one mile at a time. Don't think beyond the next mile! This is a life-long journey to keep fit and healthy. Don't be too hard on yourself for hitting a rough spot. I have sooo been there. Keep at it, keep running with your group, keep tweeting, and never give up. You will be fine!

    Good luck!

    julierje

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