on the iPod: "rock-n-roll star" -- oasis
The alarm went off at 5:45 a.m., but I was already awake. Setting it the night before was simply a formality -- I knew that I'd be up and ready. Surprisingly, I got good sleep, which can't always be guaranteed when i'm focused on an event like a distance run. A training run. After taking it easy for two months, only running short mileage on any given day, the time had dawned to focus acutely on the goal at hand: a repeat performance at this year's Chicago Marathon. The date has been set for October 9th, 2011. That's roughly three months away, but it seems like an eternity. I wish it were tomorrow.
The July heat is in full effect this summer, and because of that our distance runs need to begin as early as possibly in an effort to avoid melting right into the pavement. There's no real way to avoid the temperatures, it simply must be endured, but runners have been known to leave out as early as 4:45 a.m. to get a jump on the sun. But Mrs. Murie, bless her heart, isn't a morning person. At all. She cherishes her slumber, so our starting time is always up for debate. And since today was her birthday, I caved in and let her pick. She chose 6:30.
Leaving out from our usual point -- Starbucks -- we hit the trail and quickly commented on the temperature, also debating whether or not bank clocks actually show the correct temperature at any given time. It seems to both of us that they are always a little bit extreme. But maybe it's because we've grown up in the Arkansas heat and have become accustomed to the sweltering conditions. Or maybe our brains have been fried. Remember that egg demonstration commercial, "this is your brain on drugs", from the 1980's? It was supposed to tell kids to not do drugs, but I was 10 and never knew what in the hell that meant. Now I think it means "don't run in the frickin' hot weather".
As usual with Mrs. Murie, the pace was quick from the onset. We blistered through the first half of the out-and-back, adding a loop around Wilson Park. This time last year I never would have been able to keep up with her, which is a testament to all the miles i've put in. I'm realizing that i've basically been running non-stop for about 20 months now, and i'm finally starting to see a substantial increase in pace. I'm still keeping things in perspective, however, and have no inclinations about trying to keep up with her in Chicago. In fact, we reiterated again this morning the plan to go out and run our own races. No pressure, no expectations. Just running 26.2 miles.
The second half was just as swift, with episodes of us running together as well as running apart. I found myself thinking about how nice the summer has been thus far and how much I've enjoyed it. My days have been filled with thoughtful appreciation for the amazing people I have around me. Friends and family. Mine are the best. Hands down. I also began to think about how small things in our lives add up. It's so incredibly easy to ignore moments that seem insignificant at the time, but later we realize that they've had a profound impact on ourselves or other people. Every interaction that we have carries impact. And the sum of who we are, and how we treat the people around us, ultimately becomes a part of a greater story of life. I often wonder what my verse in that story will be. I hope that it's a good one. A meaningful one.
Ending our first distance training run in a little but under two and a half hours, Mrs. Murie and I celebrated her birthday with chocolate-mocha-crappa-frappa-latta-chino drinks on the Starbucks patio. Not really coffee, per se, but rather a fancy chocolate milkshake. I've often snubbed my nose at these concoctions while ordering my standard venti Pike's Place Roast. That's black coffee. And when nobody's looking, I add a somewhat generous portion of half-and-half to cut the bitter taste just a little. But on this fine morning, after an even finer run, with one of the coolest birthday girls I know, I thoroughly enjoyed my chocolate milkshake thing. I even had whipped cream on it.
From here, the numbers only go up in terms of distance runs, and I couldn't be happier about it. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that this morning's 13-miler wasn't a little bit trying, but toward the end I found myself already thinking about the various 15- and 18-milers to come. Not to mention a 22-miler. The heat will make these runs even more challenging, but I'm up for a good fight.
The 2011 Chicago Marathon is three months away. Training. Starts. Now.
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