And the Sky is a Hazy Shade of Winter!

Simon and Garfunkel and the Bangles, a great combination while looking out on a dreary Detroit winter morning... anyway, I digress.

It's winter.  We haven't been hit like the East Coast, but its gotten damn cold. We've had snow and I've driven on several pieces of ice.  This is far more in the way of naturally created obstacles than I have dealt with in the last 3.5 years. And now how to run?  Do I still have any cold weather gear? Will I freeze to death?  After running in 110 degree heat, will I be more immune to frostbite?  The worries!

So far I have been able to handle teen's and a "real feel" of zero.  It sucks, but I'm determined to brave the Arctic chill.  I broke down and bought myself my first pair of running tights.  (I wear shorts over them) In the early going I found out that I had a compulsion to overdress.  The fear of the initial chill, was greater than my desire for the overall comfort of the entire run.  It's getting better, but I still have trouble keeping my hands warm all day. It's proof enough my body is not up to speed yet.

The finished product.

I'm reassured that all the ice and snow is gone, for now. It gives me hope that it won't stay like this. But I took measures to prepare for when its back.  Usually if you put tools in my hands, the worst will occur, but I am pretty proud of this DIY project.  I can't take credit for the idea, but I will take credit for the quality execution.  Basically, instead of buying something like Yak Traks or some other device for my shoes to keep traction in snow and ice, I just screwed in some 1/4" sheet metal screws.  They are short enough to not come through the sole, and the shape of the head, as I found out, does a great job at "biting" the ice.   Got out for about 3 runs with them last week, and it really made a difference.  Of course, I used my oldest pair of Hell Feet, for this.  No sense in messing with the newer one.

Like I said, I've been doing my best to brave the elements.  I got as far as January 22nd, before I broke down and joined a gym.  Close to the house, and just enough good treadmills to keep me occupied.   I think the grass is always greener on the other side.  And I've been on both sides of the yard when it comes to treadmills. I was not on one the whole 3 years we lived in Arizona.  And I thought it was great... it probably was. BUT because of that, I missed the handful of benefits that I see with Treadmill use.

1. The obvious, the ability to avoid the out side elements.



Moving.

2. Consistency, one thing we tend to knock, but does have benefit, is the metronome like nature of the machine.  If you set it at 8 minute miles that's what it will go at.  If you want to work on holding a tempo, a treadmill maybe the best tool in the arsenal.

3. It's an even surface.   While some would say, it could lead to overuse, which it could.  If you are currently dealing with a compensation injury, which I have been, running on a flat surface can take the strain off and help bring your body back into balance.

4.  Mechanical Motivation: Sometimes it hard to gauge if your holding pace on a road, trail, or even a track.  With a treadmill there is no question.  If you hit a button to slow down,  you know you quit on it.  Very black and white, and sometimes we need that.

But with all these changes, training is going well. I am down 7 pounds since the holidays and workouts are getting easier. I am actually mixing in good speed work and not quitting on my long runs despite the FREEZING temps!  First race of the year will be the Circular Logic Marathon in West Lafayette, IN.  This race holds a special place for me in that its the site of my current marathon PR.  More to come!

Flashback to this time last year. Racing in the Sierra Estrellas. 

"Running over the same old ground, what have we found the same old fears?"

I've been working on this post for the last two and a half years.  The story would get a little long in the tooth if I dug in too hard, so let's leave it with this... it's difficult to put into words my running time in Arizona. Lots of experiences and indescribable scenery. Great races and great people! But many challenges.

What I was looking at when my ankle went.

In December '13, a few months after my last blog entry, I ran in a 50 mile race.  Things were going well till at mile 9, while gazing at Four Peaks,  I twisted my ankle rather severely.  And for whatever dumb reason, I decided to gut out the next 41 miles, which resulted in...no, not a broken left ankle, but an internally jacked up right hip from compensating for it.  I spent all of 2014 dealing with this injury  There were times, during trips to the Neuromuscular  Therapist, whose job it was to torture my hips, back and legs, to try to get me bits and pieces of relief, that I thought, 
this might make for an interesting piece of writing." But frankly, I was just too down, and wondering if this thing would ever get better.




1st Place in the "Runners with Beer T-shirts" Division!

Even though, over the course of the 2014,  I still ran races, (Lost Dutchman Marathon, Coldwater Rumble 20 miler, a few odds and ends) I  just wasn't  having much fun with it.  Fast forward to the start of 2015,  the hip was a little better but still not 100%.  We had just gotten word that our move to Indianapolis was approved and realizing I was down to a 5 or 6 months left in Arizona, I decided I HAD to give a go at 100 miler.  Need less to say, I was poorly prepared. I gave it my best, and my best got me about 65 miles through desert mountains.   By the time I quit, my feet were raw, like sand paper had been taken to them... I had an ear ache that made any wind, let alone an iPod excruciating.  Plus, I was just tired, hungry, defeated, and the only thing I wanted was a couple Quarter Pounders and a chocolate shake.  As I dipped the first fry into the chocolaty goodness, I came this realization...

IF YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING GREAT, YOU NEED 2 THINGS:

1.  A desire to accomplish your goal that is greater than the goal itself.
2. Training or preparation that is so good, that quitting is not even an option.

It may seem simplistic, but breaking down a goal usually is.  Think about it, if you want to attain something, anything, your desire for it must be all you can envision.  If you don't have it,  doubt, or just plain disinterest will creep in.  That happened to me... I simply didn't care enough.   By the time I got back to parking lot, with 60 plus miles on my legs,  I could care less about finishing.  I was beat.  That mental edge is everything...or at least a high percentage of everything!

As for training, I knew my lead up was not good enough, but I hoped that maybe all the miles I had done over the years had to amount for something.  It didn't.   You can't fake it. Miracles don't happen on race day!

My home field, San Tan Mountains

But in the end I just loved running in the desert. so it was worth giving it a try.  No regrets. There's many worse fates in life than not getting a 100 mile race crossed off your bucket list... but the dream is still out there.   I have so much to still mentally unpack about our time in Arizona.  As I am back running in the very familiar Indianapolis public trail system, I've been able to really appreciate the places that I got to see, the people that I met.  One thing I came away with, is that, I don't care how tough you are, the desert is tougher.  And to be able to say you spent time out there, watch the sun rise and set, to have had the indescribable smell of a trail, right after one of the rare rains... is something I'll treasure for the rest of my life.    It felt so free, like you were the only person out in that inhospitable world, moving, breathing, burning.  Truly,  some of the most spiritual moments of my life have come out on those Arizona trails.  I'll forever have it ingrained on my soul.  


Add caption

And it's something...an openness to experience, that I bring back with me to Indiana.  Now its time to get back to running well.  The winter beard is fully grown in, ready to battle with my new Arctic terrain!