Friday, November 19, 2010

Who Would Ever Run a Marathon [Article]

Here's a great article with an interesting perspective. I got to say, this guy makes some great points! Thanks Jen for posting on facebook initially!

Who Would Ever Run a Marathon?
By Dr. Tim Maggs
May/June 2001
Washington Running Report

For anyone who's ever crossed that fine line, the one that only takes 26.2 miles to get to, and now owns the title of "marathon finisher", you've probably been asked this question many times. The insinuations in the question are that anyone who would ever consider running a marathon borders on insanity or downright lunacy. Well, do you want to know what I think?

I think...

The marathon should be a requirement for all kids graduating high school today. All kids would have to complete a marathon before graduating, or would have to work forty hours a week doing community clean up (for free) until they do complete one.

The marathon should become part of an incentive program for prisoners who want early release.

The first treatment for anyone with high blood pressure, weight problems, psychological disorders, bowel problems, upper respiratory difficulties, self-esteem issues, or anxiety disorders should not be medication or group therapy, but to complete a marathon.

If anyone is caught being a bully in life, regardless of age, we should have some legislative body we can report them to and this body has the authority to convict this individual and sentence them to run a marathon. Arrogance is bad, humility is good. Marathons promote humility.

Anyone sentenced to "community service" must run a marathon. What better community service could be achieved than to get someone in the community healthier, both mentally and physically?

More serious crimes might require two marathons in one year, a sentence that would not allow any time off from training. (Whoa, would this be an inconvenience for someone not used to working out?)

There should be a fifty percent discount on all health insurance premiums with proof of running a marathon each year.

Community leaders and politicians should be required to run a marathon each year, rather than annoying everyone by going door-to-door making promises they're unable to keep. A marathon will continually encourage "honest work" instead of more rhetoric the world doesn't need. Leading by example has always proven to be successful.

Any family owning more than one vehicle must all run a marathon in order to get registrations for every vehicle after the first one.

All police officers and fire fighters must run one marathon per year to be able to continue wearing a badge.

Anyone who isn't happy in life, can't figure out why life isn't giving back the way it should, and is looking for that bigger house, perfect soul-mate, or winning lottery ticket, join in and run a marathon. I'm sure you'll find the answer somewhere along the way.

From my vantage point, there are two causes of unhappiness and poor health---the lack of drive and discipline. With technology bringing so much excitement into every room in our house, why would anyone ever need to leave the house for fun? And the media is continually telling us to take this pill or that because "you haven't got time for the pain," but the cold truth is, it's all painful. Life hurts too much these days, and on too many fronts. The marathon solves these problems in a flinch. It reintroduces us to drive and discipline, for, as we know, there are no shortcuts to crossing that finish line. You must pay the price for a long enough period of time, or you won't cross that line.

The training phase is the backbone of this program and the direct reason for improved happiness. Our social lives improve by joining a regular group to go on our weekly runs. We talk, listen, and become the person we thought we used to be---happy and interesting. All social stigmas disappear, as we all become runners seeking the same goal. We're no longer lawyers, doctors, teachers, or housewives living according to some bogus pecking order society has created. We revolve our days around our training schedule, giving us something to look forward to at the beginning of the day and something to be proud of by the end of the day. And we all inherently know this powerful fact--we're doing something that most people will never have the guts to try. We're running a marathon. Our self-esteem goes up dramatically. In fact, isn't the scale looking a little kinder these days? Those clothes that just never seemed to fit on that Monday-morning diet plan all of a sudden fit perfectly. The big clincher in this life-altering metamorphosis a person goes through occurs on that first day that someone asks you "Have you lost weight?" There's no turning back now!

And the day we cross that finish line, the day we complete the journey we started six or eight or ten months earlier, that's the day we can't wait to start all over again on our next chapter. For what we learn is one simple fact---"Who wouldn't want to run a marathon?"

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Road Bike + Clips [Adventures in Riding]

Last week, Kim S. bought a road bike.

On Saturday before the Hot Chocolate run, Kim A, Kim S. and myself talked about riding this weekend. Kim S. said she is concerned about getting comfortable with her clips. She said everyone she's talked to has a story about falling while clipped in. Kim A. said she wouldn't mind getting one last ride in, and I agreed.

Kim S. said she had yet to ride her bike outside, but had practiced in the store.

I bring up Kim's nerves about clips because I certainly have them. Even still. Even after owning my bike for over two years. Granted, I managed to fall walking up stairs earlier this week, but even still...clips are tricky.

Clips are a godsend to riding efficiently and at the same time a curse. That is, until the act of clipping in and out becomes second nature. Some of us seem to get to that 'second nature' phase faster than others.

What happens if it takes someone awhile to get in tune with their clips?

They fall. A lot.

Here's the thing about falling off a bike - it hurts. It hurts a lot more now than it did when I was a kid. There's no way to avoid the attention you'll attract when you do fall - it's quite a sight.

Not to scare Kim, of course. I have a feeling it's taken me longer than most. She may jump right in them and go on Saturday.

Either way, here are some videos from LiveStrong to refresh my memory and get her acquainted with the process:

Getting Clipped in:



Getting Out:

Friday, November 05, 2010

Running to the Expo

Tomorrow is the Hot Chocolate 15K.

The race has grown in it's three year history. So much so, that this year the packet pick-up/expo was moved Running Away's Store to Union Station.

Packet pick-up was yesterday and today.

Since I don't often find myself anywhere near Union Station, I decided the best way to go there was to run. I needed to get a run in anyway, and Union Station's about two miles from work.

I headed out with a pair of running capris and long sleeve tech tee I had only my work I.D, Chicago Card and confirmation email.

I knew conditions were windy. What I wasn't expecting was hail, then rain on the 20 minute journey.

I entered Union Station and picked up Kim and my packets. As I verified our chips at chip check, a volunteer asked me why I was wet. I told her it was raining out. She paused and then said, "You ran here? From where?" So I told her where I'd come from. She then told me I was crazy.

That's ok. I think at some level we're all used to saying that.

The packets were too bulky to run back with, so I rode the [warm] bus back.

Four weeks ago it was 80 degrees, now it's 30 something. Really mother nature?