July 1: Step aside, Forrest.
Today was supposed to be a designated "stretch and rest" day. I haven't been following the schedule to a tee lately though, so I decided to give another shot at the 6.5 mile run route (that I decided to call my "insanity run" that I attempted a month ago. This time, I had my new shoes, a bit more endurance, and the belief that I could accomplish this task of the day.
The weather was perfect today for a run. Low 70s and sunny with a cool breeze coming in from across the water. This "insanity run" gives me special incentive. I live about a mile and a half from Lake St. Clair and Lakeshore Drive. You may recognize Lakeshore Drive if you ever saw the beginning of Grosse Pointe Blank with all of the mansions. That is where the old money is...
The area I live in is rich with family history for me. My grandparents lived here for 50 years before they finally passed, and I live in their house today. I have a lot of fond memories of when I came to visit them, especially as my dad would drive down these established roads with huge elms that created a dark, shadowy tunnel for us to drive through (even when there was no cloud in the sky). Many trees were lost in the early 80s due to Dutch Elm disease, though there are still many trees that are decades old, towering over the houses where each is distinctively different than the others.
Grosse Pointe is a beautiful area to run. As my route takes me down Lakeshore Drive, I watch the big barges coming in from Canada floating on by as the smaller power boats bounce along the beautiful blue water. Windsor, Canada, can be seen across the way, almost within swimming distance (for an Ironman swimmer, anyways). The route takes me past two beautiful churches that sit right on the water, One is where my parents were married, and the other where my aunt and uncle were married. This run stirs a lot of memories for me. Both my mom and my aunt had cancer, and are no longer here. And my grandmother Elly (ny Oma), who was so active in this community, had cancer too. I run this triathlon in September for her, she is with me always.
This was the first long run I've done without my iPod, and as this entry may illustrate, I found my mind easily wandering without the music to keep me company. I am finding that the longer runs can be a bit lonely at times, at least until a new thought pops into my mind. And then it's off to another world. At least for a little while.
An hour and 15 minutes later, I completed the 6.58 mile route. I never walked once, and my feet and shins actually felt good. I'm gaining confidence that maybe I can complete this race in a decent manner. In fact, I am almost ready to challenge myself to the fact that I can finish this race in September without pause.
Perhaps these baby steps will turn into big strides after all. And then, in the end, I may just keep on running, just like Forrest Gump.
-----
Check out my fundraising progress at:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
The weather was perfect today for a run. Low 70s and sunny with a cool breeze coming in from across the water. This "insanity run" gives me special incentive. I live about a mile and a half from Lake St. Clair and Lakeshore Drive. You may recognize Lakeshore Drive if you ever saw the beginning of Grosse Pointe Blank with all of the mansions. That is where the old money is...
The area I live in is rich with family history for me. My grandparents lived here for 50 years before they finally passed, and I live in their house today. I have a lot of fond memories of when I came to visit them, especially as my dad would drive down these established roads with huge elms that created a dark, shadowy tunnel for us to drive through (even when there was no cloud in the sky). Many trees were lost in the early 80s due to Dutch Elm disease, though there are still many trees that are decades old, towering over the houses where each is distinctively different than the others.
Grosse Pointe is a beautiful area to run. As my route takes me down Lakeshore Drive, I watch the big barges coming in from Canada floating on by as the smaller power boats bounce along the beautiful blue water. Windsor, Canada, can be seen across the way, almost within swimming distance (for an Ironman swimmer, anyways). The route takes me past two beautiful churches that sit right on the water, One is where my parents were married, and the other where my aunt and uncle were married. This run stirs a lot of memories for me. Both my mom and my aunt had cancer, and are no longer here. And my grandmother Elly (ny Oma), who was so active in this community, had cancer too. I run this triathlon in September for her, she is with me always.
This was the first long run I've done without my iPod, and as this entry may illustrate, I found my mind easily wandering without the music to keep me company. I am finding that the longer runs can be a bit lonely at times, at least until a new thought pops into my mind. And then it's off to another world. At least for a little while.
An hour and 15 minutes later, I completed the 6.58 mile route. I never walked once, and my feet and shins actually felt good. I'm gaining confidence that maybe I can complete this race in a decent manner. In fact, I am almost ready to challenge myself to the fact that I can finish this race in September without pause.
Perhaps these baby steps will turn into big strides after all. And then, in the end, I may just keep on running, just like Forrest Gump.
-----
Check out my fundraising progress at:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
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