Do or Die

Spring break is here for me and I didn't go anywhere.  I finished writing tests and grading papers so I'm fairly free to get my running in like I had planned.  Monday, I ran three miles in 27:52.  I was surprised because I hadn't run that fast in many months.  Tuesday, I figured would be rough due to going back to back and the 84 degree heat--not to mention the cream cheese and ice-cream shake I fed my lactose intolerant body. 

As expected, the first mile was rough, but I settled into a somewhat comfortable pace.  I figured I would try for four miles today because I'm not very smart when it comes to training.  Into mile two, I ran up on what I thought was a snake, but it turned out to be a bungee cord.  Those things look like snakes in the dirt.  After calming my heart down, I powered up a long incline and decided I could do 4 miles.  The last six tenths of mile four were rough.  I thought that there was no way I'd finish in under 40 minutes, but the Dropkick Murphys came on the Ipod playing Do Or Die.  I thought I'll either do this or die trying.  Being Irish and so close to St. Patricks Day, I mustered whatever Irish stubborness and stupidity I had and finished in an even 39 minutes. 

So far, so good.  Like Bob Dylan, I'm a keep on keepin' on. 

Jump Around

Since I haven't written anything since December 2010, I guess that really was a tough thirty.  Running wise, things were going well during the summer.  I was easily running 15 miles every Saturday and getting ready to make the push to twenty so I could take on the 50 mile ultra races.  I took a teaching job and it has consumed my entire week.  Weekends are spent grading and planning for the next week.  Only recently have I begun to feel like things are slowing down. 

Prior to today, I had only run once in the last 5 weeks.  I had been playing some basketball with my team though.  Today's run was a short 3.1 miles in 29:33.  It didn't feel super easy, but I wasn't gasping for air either.  I was fading with 3/4 of a mile to go, but then Jump Around by House Of Pain came on and I had to speed up.  If you're Irish and that song doesn't get your blood pumping faster, you must have been adopted.  I kicked it in the last half mile to get under thirty minutes. 

The goal for 2012 is to run 40 miles in 8 hours.  We've (the "we" include myself and the voices in my head that talk to me when I run) got a long way to go (literally and figuratively), but Summer's coming and I plan to have a solid base in by then.

Until next time,

Jump Around, Jump Around
Jump Up, Jump Up, and Get Down.