Flat tire

This Saturday I decided to do another trail run.  This time there would be no cross country 5k before the run.  This time I would run 3.5 miles in turn around and go back an out-and-back route.  7 miles would be tough.  This is no flat course the trail I chose is a mountain bike trail around Pinacle mountain.  I forget the elevation my Garmin recorded I'll add it in later.

The Jackfork trail is the same trail I ran last time with the Hard/Harder sign.  This time I chose Hard.  It was definitely not Harder but by mile 6 I was more walk than run.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

About a half mile in I step down and feel a sharp poke to my left foot.  I think oh sh!t I've stepped on a nail because (as everyone knows) there are nails everywhere on the side of an undeveloped moutainside in a state park.  Nails are at the top of the Trail Running Hazard List.

The list is as follows
1. nails
2. bears
3. snakes
4. falling and breaking your leg in the middle of nowhere without anyone knowing where you are and dying of exposure

I might have mixed up bears and snakes but the rest is 100% accurate.  I read it on the internet.

As I was saying I, at first thought I had fallen victim to the nail.  Instead I found a stick stuck to the botom of my shoe.  There was a piece about 1 inch long stuck through the bottom of my shoe and quite possibly through my foot.  I immediately pulled it out wishing much later I'd taken a picture frst.

I'd just driven 30 minutes to get there and decided I was running no matter what.  So I gingerly took off and felt only minor pain.  As I ran along I tried to pay attention to see if my shoe was filling up with blood.  The pain quickly faded and I forgot about it.

My foot is fine.  The stick didn't break the skin.  The lesson learned is- there is a reason people in the 'know' recommend trail specific shoes.  Bigger lugs that release mud, a thicker (more puncture resistant) sole and generally an upper that will keep  out small rocks and debris.

Where have I been?

It’s been a while since I posted.  I’ve been working a lot and then there’s vacation.  The family and I went to Cozumel with friends for some relaxing and scuba diving.  I’ll post pics on that when I get my hands on them.  An anniversary came and passed unnoticed last month while I was on vacation.   As I drove into work yesterday morning and the date hit me I realized I have been running regularly for 2 years now.

Only 2 weeks have passed in the last 108 weeks where I have not run at least 4 days for every 7.  The majority of those weeks I have run 6 days.  Only on the last few months have a cut back to 4 days.

When I began running there were no other goals than to do better and lose a few pounds.  I had no intention of running a 5k much less a marathon.  I have at this point run two 5k’s a Cross Country 5k and a half marathon.  I also have a half marathon planned for October 31^st and my first full marathon in March of 2012. 

My question is why.  Why am I doing this?

I haven’t really gotten faster.  I haven’t really tried.  I can face it, I've never been The Flash.

I’m not getting thinner.  I’ve evened out at 15 pounds lost.  There’s none of that muscle vs fat shit either I’m not building muscle anymore.  Bite me.

Actual vacation picture

Is it the endorphins?  I feel better about myself but never had “the runner’s high.”  I’ve tried.

Boredom?  Nah, I’ve got plenty of other recreations that require no sweat (or compression shorts) whatsoever.

Sense of accomplishment?  Hmmm.  This one may have legs.

Since I started running it was one small goal after another.  First, run/ walk for half an hour a day. The goal was running more every week and walking less until no walking.

Then it was complete a 5k in under 30 min.

Then complete a half marathon in under 2:30.

Then a marathon before I’m 40.