But there are plenty times when I do think when in a circle. Thoughts go to the 30000+ miles run since 1977, including personal bests when young of a 3:35 marathon, 27 minute four miler, racing down Haleakala's Halemauu trail, monitor lizards on Bangkok's park paths, dodging fallen trees after Taipei typhoon, getting lost in Beijing's streets, cramming in the miles during noon time heat up Nu`uanu, roaming the grounds of Alewa Heights Kamehameha Schools, army miles wearing combat boots and fatigues, roves at Camp Manito-wish, elementary school relays, races with brothers and Dad in front of first home with sidewalks close to Iowa's Mississippi River. Some of the stickiest situations during working years were ironed out while on a run. It is not that when set out that think okay to day thoughts will go here or go there, but rather that epiphanies seem to occur easier when moving in an altered state.
But there are plenty times when I do think when in a circle. Thoughts go to the 30000+ miles run since 1977, including personal bests of a 3:35 marathon, 27 minute four miler, racing down Haleakala's Halemauu trail, monitor lizards on Bangkok's park paths, dodging fallen trees after Taipei typhoon, getting lost in Beijing's streets, cramming in the miles during noon time heat up Nu`uanu, roaming the grounds of Alewa Heights Kamehameha Schools, army miles wearing combat boots and fatigues, roves at Camp Manito-wish, elementary school relays, races with brothers and Dad in front of first home with sidewalks close to Iowa's Mississippi River. Some of the stickiest situations during working years were ironed out while on a run. It is not that when set out that think okay to day thoughts will go here or go there, but rather that epiphanies seem to occur easier when moving in an altered state.
THE TEST
August 5, 2018, when left the house at 4:30 am for early am run there was no rain, a slight breeze, and I felt good. After the walk down to the park, then a few warm-up slow jog minutes decided this was as a good a day as any to do the mile test had been training for via the past 11-week mile schedule which included lots of quality/uptempo sessions. Stopped for a few moments by the playground's trash can to relace the well broken in calderas followed by four 20-second strides, and some more easy running. Then pulled the watch with the stop function and its broken band out of my pocket. set the timer and took off. Way too fast. Legs moving, arms pumping, heart pounding, by the 300-meter mark was evident that had let anxiety run wild and needed to slow down. Relax relax relax kept muttering as strived to keep the breathing at a steady two two rhythm, coordinated to left foot strikes. At the halfway point knew the best thing would be to keep the third 400 at the same pace as had been doing. Kept the focus on the mile pace that used for all those 400 repeats the past few months, and stopped thinking about how much further had to go. It was still dark out and glances at the stars in the night sky gave some relief from the pain. Soon all had left was the last quarter so extended the stride length a little and held on while visualizing myself as Roger Bannister closing in on history. The last 200 breathing became more of a chore and by the final 50 was gasping for air.
At the finish line hit the button on the watch that had been carrying and it displayed a different time zone, stopped on a dime so could push a few more buttons until what seemed like forever for the current time to show. Checked again and was relieved that must have hit the goal. I then jogged around several minutes and decided to try to recapture the watch malfunction so as to better gauge just how long the test had taken. The reenactment took 20 seconds. Even if cut that time in half still would have met the goal so I was happy. 7:40 for a mile. Seven years ago I tested at a 6:56 mile, and 30 years before that routinely did training runs at 7 minutes in the heat and humidity, but nonetheless, I was ecstatic with the time
In 2012 knee flare ups while on a short backpacking trip had given me pause. Diagnosis later of osteoarthritis should not have been a surprise but it was. "I can operate on you soon or you can consider other options like PT," said the sports Doc. "What do you recommend?" He pushed his stool away from the examining bed and said: "That's up to you as cannot say whether one is better than the other." So I went with PT. The problem dissipated and resumed running. Also went on backpacking trips, mostly short but one for almost 4 months with no significant joint issues. Then at the end of 2016, a year that had been one of my best since 2009 retirement as far as consistency and quality/quantity of runs the left foot became an issue, MRI confirmed arthritis there as well. No operation offered this time but was told marathoning is probably not a good idea. The first half of 2017 was a struggle to walk let alone run consistently which meant training was done on the elliptical machine. Did a lot of shiatsu treatment too. One day I told the therapist "Maybe I should just walk."
"That is not a bad idea... you know you will never run again like you used to."
So that stuck with me for a while until that July 2017 when decided that as foot no longer hurt to run regularly again. Soon was averaging 38 miles a week with lots of repetition, interval, and marathon pace work. Got my weight down to what was in college and was feeling fitter than had in years. 2018 has also gone well. Late May started the mile schedule with its max weekly schedule of around 30 miles. Am very pleased with the test results, and shoots just happy can run at all.
August 5, 2018, when left the house at 4:30 am for early am run there was no rain, a slight breeze, and I felt good. After the walk down to the park, then a few warm-up slow jog minutes decided this was as a good a day as any to do the mile test had been training for via the past 11-week mile schedule which included lots of quality/uptempo sessions. Stopped for a few moments by the playground's trash can to relace the well broken in calderas followed by four 20-second strides, and some more easy running. Then pulled the watch with the stop function and its broken band out of my pocket. set the timer and took off. Way too fast. Legs moving, arms pumping, heart pounding, by the 300-meter mark was evident that had let anxiety run wild and needed to slow down. Relax relax relax kept muttering as strived to keep the breathing at a steady two two rhythm, coordinated to left foot strikes. At the halfway point knew the best thing would be to keep the third 400 at the same pace as had been doing. Kept the focus on the mile pace that used for all those 400 repeats the past few months, and stopped thinking about how much further had to go. It was still dark out and glances at the stars in the night sky gave some relief from the pain. Soon all had left was the last quarter so extended the stride length a little and held on while visualizing myself as Roger Bannister closing in on history. The last 200 breathing became more of a chore and by the final 50 was gasping for air.
At the finish line hit the button on the watch that had been carrying and it displayed a different time zone, stopped on a dime so could push a few more buttons until what seemed like forever for the current time to show. Checked again and was relieved that must have hit the goal. I then jogged around several minutes and decided to try to recapture the watch malfunction so as to better gauge just how long the test had taken. The reenactment took 20 seconds. Even if cut that time in half still would have met the goal so I was happy. 7:40 for a mile. Seven years ago I tested at a 6:56 mile, and 30 years before that routinely did training runs at 7 minutes in the heat and humidity, but nonetheless, I was ecstatic with the time
In 2012 knee flare ups while on a short backpacking trip had given me pause. Diagnosis later of osteoarthritis should not have been a surprise but it was. "I can operate on you soon or you can consider other options like PT," said the sports Doc. "What do you recommend?" He pushed his stool away from the examining bed and said: "That's up to you as cannot say whether one is better than the other." So I went with PT. The problem dissipated and resumed running. Also went on backpacking trips, mostly short but one for almost 4 months with no significant joint issues. Then at the end of 2016, a year that had been one of my best since 2009 retirement as far as consistency and quality/quantity of runs the left foot became an issue, MRI confirmed arthritis there as well. No operation offered this time but was told marathoning is probably not a good idea. The first half of 2017 was a struggle to walk let alone run consistently which meant training was done on the elliptical machine. Did a lot of shiatsu treatment too. One day I told the therapist "Maybe I should just walk."
"That is not a bad idea... you know you will never run again like you used to."
So that stuck with me for a while until that July 2017 when decided that as foot no longer hurt to run regularly again. Soon was averaging 38 miles a week with lots of repetition, interval, and marathon pace work. Got my weight down to what was in college and was feeling fitter than had in years. 2018 has also gone well. Late May started the mile schedule with its max weekly schedule of around 30 miles. Am very pleased with the test results, and shoots just happy can run at all.
WHY
Jeremiah relayed that those who survived had found grace in the wilderness. I like that verse a lot as to me running and wilderness are interchangeable. What I crave about the wilderness I often find when out on a run. Even if it in a big lot circle. Getting through a challenging workout such as 5x800 at 5k pace gives the same sense of satisfaction as a day tramping in the mountains. Running, like wilderness, heightens senses, awareness of details, and a deeper appreciation of nature plus gratitude for being alive.
I figure since those wandering in the wilderness obtained grace there is hope for me to do likewise. Although for the most part am slow and often plodding in my mind I often feel as smooth as the Ethiopians and as graceful as Carl Lewis. Am I more patient, calm, kind to others, charitable, less critical, more forgiving because I run? That's debatable but I like to think so. Pounding the pavement may not put me in a state of grace but such has nudged me at least a little bit closer. That and the sensation of speed suspending truth are the main reasons why I hope can keep "on it" for years not yet here.
WHAT'S NEXT
August 5th the day of the mile test is also the day that started on a new marathon training cycle.
The main goal for 2018 was to reach 3000 miles running and walking. Am pretty sure did hit 3000 each of the past two and maybe three years but can't say for sure as was only tracking running miles. Thanks to various plans have been on finished 2018 with 3620 combined miles.
Wanted to do the Tokyo Marathon but did not get in so going to Phoenix (2/9/2019) instead. By the time get there will have completed 27 weeks of marathon training. During the first 23 weeks of the plan have have run over a 1000 miles, 225 of which were at Marathon, 126 at Tempo, 37 Interval and 17 at Repetition pace. Twenty six long runs have exceeded 2 hours including 19 over 2 and a half, and 7 at three plus. All had uptempo work with 17 involving extended faster pacing at the end. With 4 weeks till race day quality output and long runs will continue. Have dropped 10 pounds in the past 5 months and now at the same weight as when achieved personal bests. Am hoping for a time in Phoenix that will age grade out to equal or better what did in the early eighties. Is okay though if does not. In fact, even if something unforeseen happens and I don't get to the start line, or don't finish before the cut off time am happy to have taken part in the journey. Although the reality is am not, yet at times in my mind I still am, as fast as that young boy winning the 5th-grade relays.
Jeremiah relayed that those who survived had found grace in the wilderness. I like that verse a lot as to me running and wilderness are interchangeable. What I crave about the wilderness I often find when out on a run. Even if it in a big lot circle. Getting through a challenging workout such as 5x800 at 5k pace gives the same sense of satisfaction as a day tramping in the mountains. Running, like wilderness, heightens senses, awareness of details, and a deeper appreciation of nature plus gratitude for being alive.
I figure since those wandering in the wilderness obtained grace there is hope for me to do likewise. Although for the most part am slow and often plodding in my mind I often feel as smooth as the Ethiopians and as graceful as Carl Lewis. Am I more patient, calm, kind to others, charitable, less critical, more forgiving because I run? That's debatable but I like to think so. Pounding the pavement may not put me in a state of grace but such has nudged me at least a little bit closer. That and the sensation of speed suspending truth are the main reasons why I hope can keep "on it" for years not yet here.
WHAT'S NEXT
August 5th the day of the mile test is also the day that started on a new marathon training cycle.
The main goal for 2018 was to reach 3000 miles running and walking. Am pretty sure did hit 3000 each of the past two and maybe three years but can't say for sure as was only tracking running miles. Thanks to various plans have been on finished 2018 with 3620 combined miles.
Wanted to do the Tokyo Marathon but did not get in so going to Phoenix (2/9/2019) instead. By the time get there will have completed 27 weeks of marathon training. During the first 23 weeks of the plan have have run over a 1000 miles, 225 of which were at Marathon, 126 at Tempo, 37 Interval and 17 at Repetition pace. Twenty six long runs have exceeded 2 hours including 19 over 2 and a half, and 7 at three plus. All had uptempo work with 17 involving extended faster pacing at the end. With 4 weeks till race day quality output and long runs will continue. Have dropped 10 pounds in the past 5 months and now at the same weight as when achieved personal bests. Am hoping for a time in Phoenix that will age grade out to equal or better what did in the early eighties. Is okay though if does not. In fact, even if something unforeseen happens and I don't get to the start line, or don't finish before the cut off time am happy to have taken part in the journey. Although the reality is am not, yet at times in my mind I still am, as fast as that young boy winning the 5th-grade relays.
CIRCLE
Attached photos are of me with Grandpa Jenkins (born 1868 photo 1954), the first week with wife Betty Lee, first grandchildren born summer/fall 2918 Rhea Jade Meriah/ Luna Lin-An and the family.
Attached photos are of me with Grandpa Jenkins (born 1868 photo 1954), the first week with wife Betty Lee, first grandchildren born summer/fall 2918 Rhea Jade Meriah/ Luna Lin-An and the family.
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