Vitamin I

Interesting article from Runner's World Magazine about

Vitamin I (Ibuprofen)

Click Here

Me Legs Are Sore

Yea Hah! Our last long run before the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is history. Who all ran the 22 miles? And who besides me is sore, sore, sore? Most everyone was already gone when I finished up so I hope it went well for you. Did your time for each loop come out close to the same? My first 3 loops were close to the same but I slowed down quite a bit on the fourth loop.
Now we get to taper.

Check Out the February 2009 issue of the Marathon Maniacs
newsletter Pages 18 and 19 for my entry into the
Maniacs Insane Asylum: February 2009 newsletter

Big Loser Contest at RunnersWorld

In case you missed the news report about the RunnersWorld Big Loser contest - here it is:

http://65.38.4.135/NDSPortal/ArchivePlayer.aspx?ShareId=bc7f9d80-bd93-42ce-8b67-a6eded2e591c&PortalId=3cddb705-54f4-45f7-97d3-ae049ae4e988&EmailAddress=videoclips@metromonitor.com&FileId=5E2EB506-C552-4FF4-844E-BAC46D3F79C5

HAPPY TRAILS

Venturing off-road leads to simple yet profound discoveries.

By John Bingham

PUBLISHED 10/29/2001

I've never been much of a trail runner. Okay, I've never been much of a road runner either, but that's not the point. As one whose feet never get more than an inch off the ground, I worry about bumps in the sidewalk. So it's hard to imagine encountering branches, roots and rocks.

But I finally gave in. With all the hoopla about the pleasures of trail running, I thought I should at least see what the fuss was about. And to my surprise, I discovered a fun, new running environment.

It didn't hurt that the first trails I tried were in Eugene, Oregon, where the paths have names like 'Amazon' and 'Pre.' It wasn't hard to figure out what people liked about running on them. These bark-covered, well-kept, well-marked routes were ideal for my first tentative off-road ventures.

It also didn't hurt that the next trails I tried were around Lake Tahoe, California, where physical efforts are rewarded with spectacular panoramas. This terrain wasn't nearly as predictable, however. Sometimes it seemed I was dodging as much of the trail as I was using. Nevertheless, the joys of off-road running were beginning to take hold.

Somewhere out on these paths, I felt a change taking place. I found that my flat-footed, stubby-legged stride, which looks so awkward on the street, actually worked to my advantage on the trail. My low-to-the-ground build also made me more stable. On this rugged ground, where even the fast move slowly, I was able to keep up.

Then there was the inescapable romance of running through the woods.

Without knowing it, I was becoming just one more animal in the forest. As I ran, I wasn't always sure what I was seeing or hearing, but I felt more connected to the squirrels and birds and whatever else was hiding in the brush.

There was a certain giddiness to the experience. The irregularity of the terrain masked the irregularities of my running. And walking the steep uphill sections was not merely accepted but advised. The more I ran, the better I felt. And the better I felt, the more I understood.

Life is simpler on the trails. Running here can bring you closer to what running was meant to be. Running doesn't need to be only about going farther and faster. It can be about feeling free and unfettered. Running can be about opening yourself up to people, and it can be about opening yourself up to your surroundings.

It's not that we can't benefit from running on the pavement or on the track. We can learn a lot from logging dozens of miles or hammering through repeats. But these lessons are learned as much with our will and fortitude as they are with our legs and lungs.

On the trails, however, away from the more obvious measures of skill and the tangible signs of what we've gained or lost, we can learn with our eyes, ears and hearts. And some discoveries can be rather humbling. In this rugged environment, we may find that, as part of the animal world, even the finest of us aren't very well suited to deal with nature. Despite all of our human sophistication and intellect, even a half-witted chipmunk can outsmart us in the wilderness.

Trail running has added another dimension to my experience as a runner. While I'm not prepared to give up the comfort of water fountains, mile markers and smooth roads every day, I now believe that for me to be complete as a runner, I need to spend more time finding the forest through the trees.

Waddle on, friends.

"The miracle isn't that I finished . . . The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

For more Penguin wit and wisdom, go to johnbingham.com.

Tossing and Turning, Moaning and Groaning

Saturday was supposed to be a 20 mile long run but Mother Nature intervened.

Sure we showed up to run like the hardcore runners we are. We took a vote and the majority was to go ahead and run, but soon the cold rain started and soaked us to the bones. Then the cold wind started and made us even colder. Then the snow started falling. Most of us ran our first 5 mile loop and decided we would come back tomorrow for another attempt. Hey it’s spring, what’s this 6-8 inches of snow on the ground? It was a beautiful snow, just not ideal for running.

Sunday at 1:00pm several of us returned to Veteran’s park to try and finish what we started the day before. I for one was not looking forward to running because this is usually my one day of the week to take it easy and not do much. But I sure didn’t want to miss a long run after putting this much time and effort into training. I can’t believe most of the snow has already melted. Now we have puddles everywhere to contend with.

We normally have a full day off from running the day before our long runs but this time we had our failed attempt the day before. I was already tired before I started and my legs were sore. Off we went with plans of completing four 5 mile loops. The first loop I ran with Sandra. It was nonstop except for the water stops. Way to go Sandra. I think you are ready for your half marathon. The second and third loop was run with Linda. We kept each other going while complaining about our aches and pains. After the third loop we decided to call it a day. Thanks for sticking with me Linda. We got our 20 miles but it took us two days to do it.

Sunday night I was ready for bed. My sore muscles wouldn’t let me sleep. They kept me tossing and turning and moaning and groaning all night long. Don’t you just love this thing we call running?

See you Monday nighters tonight for more running. I promise it will not snow.

Part of the new trail is open!

Monday night running is going great. We had 10 out
tonight, twelve if you count the dogs.

Jason and Lisa with their cute dogs
Debie
Sandra
Michael 1
Michael 2
Bobby
Brian
Tom
Ken (Ken started when the rest of us finished. I think
he must have forgot to set his clock ahead).

The trail from 31st to 41st is now open so most of us
ran from 21st to 41st then back for a total of 4 miles.


New bridge just South of 31st street


Near the rugby field. Wow, they already have the lights
up. I wonder why it is taking so long to get them installed
along Turkey Mountain?


Tom done with his miles heading back


The two Michael's at the end of the open trail


Brian on a scavenger hunt or inspecting the new park?
Hum, maybe I could use that wood for my remodeling
project.


We got in a little rock climbing tonight. Does that count
as crosstraining?

16 miler done

Our sixteen mile training run is behind us now.
This was a nice out and back, mostly flat, from
Tulsa to Sand Springs. Isn't it something to be
able to say you have ran from one city to another.
We have ran from Tulsa to Jenks and Tulsa to
Sand Springs. Is anyone up for a run from
Tulsa to Skiatook?

Downtown Tulsa looked a long ways off at the turn
around but we all made it back in one piece.

We can now focus on 18 miles which is coming
up in two weeks. Think about it as being only
two miles further - piece of cake, right?

Somehow the weather seems to know it is the
weekend and of course it turned cold again.
I had icicles from sweat on my hat.

I didn't take as many pictures as I'd hoped,
but here are some of them:


Three Stooges Kathy, Chrissy and Michael

Natural springs west of 81st West Avenue.

If the water fountains don't work I guess you could

always get a drink here.