Contacts

OK, so most of us (who run marathons from time-to-time) have had to field the question: “how long is the next marathon you’re running?” Um, same distance as the last nine, 26 miles, 385 yards. Which is usually followed by some comment about your sanity followed by an anecdote about a friend or relative who runs 10K marathons…you know the drill.

So, this summer the check on my sanity has been in the form of the following rhetorical question: “you don’t run when it’s this hot, do you?” Um, no, I only run when the temperature is between 52 degrees Fahrenheit and 64 degrees Fahrenheit at 5 a.m. I get a couple of dozen runs in a year; that’s all you really need to do…besides, races are cancelled if the weather conditions aren’t perfect. Honestly (I am not making this up) I fielded this question six times in one day!

In the classic book Once a Runner, author John Parker’s fictitious coach Bruce Denton tells protagonist Quenton Cassidy to “live like a clock”. I’ve read similar themes in the non-fiction world too. It’s all about consistency – which is to say you just have to suck it up and get out there. But goodness, when it’s 82 degrees with a dew point of 73 at 4:30 a.m. and the schedule calls for 10 miles...drink up, and get your butt in gear!

August 1st marks the beginning of phase III of my marathon training schedule–a fact I celebrate with my first 20 miler at the beginning of my first 80 mile week. I survived back-to-back 72 mile weeks this past month (both physically and mentally–I think) Everything seems to be on track.

Our track series winds up on Wednesday August 4th–once again muchas gracias to Perry Rapp for really making that whole thing happen. The following Wednesday, August 11th, features the Panther Path 5K at 6:30 p.m. at Patuxent High School. We close out August with the Chaptico Classic 5K/10K on the 28th. This is a CBRC timed race–if you’re not running PLEASE come out and help with the finish line. I mean, you really don’t want to run a 10K marathon when it’s that hot, do you?

Peace,
– Ric