April 2010
1 post
What this 'Blog' is all about
This ‘Blog’ is not really a blog. It’s a story told in chronological order.
It’s a story about running which sounds very boring. Indeed, running long distances at a stretch can be boring, painful, mind-numbing, or worse.
But in every run, the good and the bad, something interesting happens. These are the stories I want to tell. Sometimes the stories are sparked by...
January 2010
1 post
Sample Entry - from somewhere in the middle of the...
Support Team
Espiens 09-08-09
Today, I finally get a support team for a long run. All summer I have asked my kids, nephews, nieces, guests, Odile and anyone else who cared to listen if they didn’t want to take a leisurely bike ride while I ran. No takers.
This is my last run in France. My son and my nephew finally agree to join me on the bikes.
A support team will be great. They can...
September 2009
23 posts
2 tags
From start to finish
Espiens, France 20-07-2009
I have been meaning to do this for a long time: to write a little bit after training runs.
A little background might be in order. I am training now to run the NYC marathon on November 1st. I have always run short distances a few times a week but just about a year ago became interested in distance running. Since then I have run half marathons in Angkor Wat and...
3 tags
Soooo Slow
Espiens, France 23-07-2009
My last run was two days ago. I am about to head out the door in a few minutes for the next which is meant to be longer and faster than the last according to my training schedule. I ran so slow on a short run two days ago. I chose to run the day after a long run (they come once a week) even though it would normally be a rest day. It was hot. But I think the real...
3 tags
What a Difference a Day Makes
Espiens, France 23-07-09
What a difference a day makes. A day of rest that is. Also a bottle or two less of red wine the night before a run. Odile (I am her husband) and Joanna went to the beach to visit a friend so I only had a couple of glasses of wine at dinner with the kids last night. The 12k run today was enjoyable. It was a pace builder and I managed it well.
Since I had just written...
5 tags
The Road to Montplaisir
Espiens, France 25-07-2009
I am running from our home in Espiens, Chateau de la Couture, to Montplasir. I’ve been looking forward to this particular run for a long time. The road signs say it’s 7km from Espiens to Montplaisir, which is perfect for the ‘easy’ Saturday runs that precede the long Sunday runs on my schedule. It’s hilly terrain past some magnificent Chateaux but on the whole...
5 tags
Long Runs
Espiens France, 27-07-2009
I don’t sleep well the night before long runs. I am anxious and fidgety. I worry that I will wake up to one of those days when I just don’t run well. That happens from time to time. It’s simply not possible to predict which will be a good running day and which will not.
This particular long run was scheduled for a Sunday. I prefer to make the Long Runs early...
If You Stay in Home with Spectacular Views You...
Espiens, 01-08- 2009
Odile’s home in Espiens sits on a ridge-line that marks one of the highest points within a 20 km radius. I know. I have checked on Google Earth. I have also driven on every small road in the area to find high points and still I have to look back up to see Espiens.
The views are spectacular. Particularly at this time of year when the fields are planted with seas...
Running with David
Espiens, France 06-08-09
Today I ran 10k with David Byrne. The rest of the Talking Heads were just behind us. It’s not often that I allow any one artist to run exclusively with me. As a rule, I am like a little league coach. I allow any player who passes the Tangerine 140 BPM test to have a chance to play. But I had this hypothesis that was proven correct today. David Byrne and the Talking...
9 tags
David Byrnes Song - Don’t Fence Me In...
David Laurance’s Song - ‘Dean’...
A Short History of Technology and Running
Espiens, France 03-08-09
Another long run. I am thinking again about technology. Not so much about technology itself but my interaction and involvement with it. I realize that the depth of my involvement with technology has mirrored my involvement with running.
I remember now that I ran regularly in high school and college and the first few years I lived in Asia. I ran in those days for a...
9 tags
Support Team
Espiens 09-08-09
Today, I finally get a support team for a long run. All summer I have asked my kids, nephews, nieces, guests, Odile and anyone else who cared to listen if they didn’t want to take a leisurely bike ride while I ran. No takers.
This is my last run in France. My son and my nephew finally agree to join me on the bikes.
A support team will be great. They can carry my water and...
8 tags
9 tags
Tan Son Nhat Speedway
Saigon 23-08-09
I am on an early morning run in Saigon. It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that hot, humid, over-populated, polluted cities with sidewalks reserved for street vendors and scooter parking are not ideal for marathon training.
If I want to run outdoors it has to be done at the crack of sparrows. Two reasons. First, it’s too hot to run after about 8am. Even in the evenings the...
4 tags
10 tags
Engine Failure
Hoi An, Vietnam, 30-08-09
The sound of metal grinding on metal is not comforting at 30,000 ft. This is particularly true when I am sitting on the port side window above the wing (and fuel tank) of a domestic flight in the developing word. It’s even worse because I heard the loud ‘Clunk’ (not really the ‘Bang’ you would expect) that preceded these alarming grinding noises. It came from the engine...
8 tags
Gorillas and Pigs
Saigon South, 06-09-09
I just passed a 20-something kid running barefoot. Barefoot running and ‘simulated barefoot running’ have been in the news recently. At least the news that catches my attention these days. There is some speculation that the modern running shoe is perhaps the cause and not the solution to many running related injuries. Some of these arguments make sense. Based on his...
August 2009
5 posts
5 tags
Beer Good
Saigon, 19-09-09
I am running in pre-dawn darkness trying out several new things.
I’m trying out one-way routes for the first time in Vietnam. This one will cover most of downtown Saigon, cross the river and end in the expatriate golden ghetto on the other side of the river. I’ve tired of the loops around my house near the airport. This will be one of the longest of the long runs. In a few...
Tribal Nonsense
Saigon 28-09-09
I am staring at my ankle. It is the size and color of an eggplant. The American style eggplant. The one that is really shaped like a huge ostrich egg. Not the more elegant European version that the French call an Aubergine. “This can’t be happening”, I think to myself.
I had a great run on Saturday two days ago. I followed the same one-way route to An Phu that I ran the...
Haiku and me
Saigon 5-10-09
It has been two weeks
I can yet wear but one shoe
Fuck I am angry
At me
Maybe a bike can get me to New York
Saigon 10-10-09
I can ride a bike and do some other workouts in the gym. It’s no problem to ride the silly thing for an hour or more.
I’ve got full range movement, ankle-wise, but it’s still badly swollen. If I keep up the aerobic training and can start running next week I think I might be okay to run through New York.
Who Died?
Saigon 20-10-09
It’s not going to happen.
I tried walking on a treadmill and started increasing the speed to a very slow run.
Within five minutes it was very clear I won’t be running anytime soon.
This is very depressing. And I just realized that I have passed through 4 of the 5 stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining and Depression. Only Acceptance to go.
I really need to a grip on...
Finish
Saigon 24-10-09
A few minutes ago I officially withdrew from the NYC marathon. I could cry right now if I concentrated hard enough.
I should have clicked the ‘cancel my entry’ button a week or more ago once it became so painfully obvious that I wouldn’t be running well enough to catch one of those famous New York Yellow Cabs on November 1. The airline reservations were already cancelled, after...